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X  ^  THE 

MISSIONARY'S  FAREWELL; 

ITalelrictors  Serbices 

OP  THE 

REV.   JOHN  WILLIAMS, 

.  PREVIOUS  TO  HIS  DEPARTURE  FOR  THE  SOUTH  SEAS; 
WITH  HIS 

^Partiitfl  ©clricators  ^trJrress, 

TO   THE 
BRITISH  CHURCHES  AND  THE  FRIENDS  OF  MISSIONS. 


"  And  they  accompanied  him  unto  the  ship." 


NEW- YORK : 
D.  APPLETON  &  CO.,  200,  BROADWAY. 

1838. 


H.  LUDWJG,  Printer, 
72,  Vesey-street. 


PREFACE. 


The  present  departure  of  Mr.  Williams  for  the  South 
Seas,  the  circumstances  attending  it,  and  the  leading" 
object  of  his  voyage,  are  matters  of  a  nature  sufficiently 
extraordinary  to  authorize,  if  not  to  demand,  a  more  than 
passing  notice.  The  present  publication  has  originated 
in  this  conviction.  Its  object  is  to  extend  and  perpetu- 
ate the  knowledge  of  the  truths  and  facts  which  it  com- 
prises ;  to  rear  a  little  monument  to  the  honour  of  a 
good  man,  a  distinguished  benefactor  of  his  species  ;  and 
to  record  the  commencement  of  a  great  enterprise  of 
Chistian  philanthropy. 

The  Addresses  are  wholly  authentic.  The  experi- 
enced Reporter  of  the  "  Patriot''^  Office,  Mr.  Johnson, 
was  engaged  to  take  a  verbatim  report  of  the  whole 
proceedings ;  and  the  entire  manuscript  was  submitted 
to  the  speakers,  compared  with  their  own  notes,  and  re- 
vised by  their  own  hands.  The  publication  of  the 
Prayers  presented  was  essential  to  the  completion  of  the 
plan.  This  step,  though  not  common,  is  neither  with- 
out precedent  in  history,  foundation  in  reason,  nor  sanc- 
tion from  Scripture ;  it  is  believed,  too,  that  the  day 
draws  on  when  the  prayers  on  such  occasions  will  cease, 
whether  to  the  present  auditor  or  the  distant  reader,  to 
be  the  least  interesting  portion  of  the  services.  Such, 
most  assuredly,  was  the  case  on  the  night  associated 
with  this  little  volume.  From  delicacy,  however,  the 
manuscript  was  not  submitted  to  either  of  the  beloved 
and  venerated  ministers  by  whom  the  prayers  were 
offered  up  ;  this  is  doubtless  a  disadvantage,  but  if  there 
be  any  inaccuracy,  let  the  censure  rest  upon  the  Editor. 


IV  PREFACE. 

Of  the  Hymns  selected  for  the  occasion,  some  were 
necessarily  abridged,  and  others  omitted.  They  are  all 
here  given  at  length,  and  in  their  proper  places.  They 
are  considered  peculiarly  and  unusually  appropriate  to 
the  occasion  ;  they^  also,  were  necessary  to  the  plan  ;  and 
the  fact  that,  with  one,  or  at  most,  two  exceptions,  none 
of  them  are  to  be  found  in  our  popular  congregational 
Hymn-books,  is  a  further  ground  of  their  publication. 

Concerning  the  '■'■  Narrative^''  the  Writer  has  only  to 
remark,  that  it  is  believed  to  be  correct,  and  that  he 
who  knows  most  of  human  nature,  will  consider  its  mi- 
nuteness to  be,  not  a  blemish,  but  an  excellence.  It  is 
designed  to  be  a  record  of  friendship ;  this  accounts  for 
the  free  use  which  is  made  of  names.  A  cold,  general, 
anonymous  style  of  narration  would  have  defeated  that 
design.  Of  those  mentioned,  it  is  certain  that  each  will 
be  gratified  to  see  every  other  name,  if  not  his  own,  and 
the  Christian  public  will  be  pleased  to  see  them  all. 
The  Writer,  moreover,  has  had  in  view  the  generation 
to  come,  for  he  doubts  not  that  this  artless,  unpretending 
tale  will  be  read  by  them  and  their  children,  not  for  its 
own  sake,  but  for  that  of  its  subject ;  and  that  the  ob- 
jection, if  there  be  any,  of  the  present,  will  be  a  strong 
recommendation  to  the  future  age. 

It  only  remains  to  be  stated,  that  the  Writer  derives  no 
benefit  from  this  undertaking,  and  has  no  interest  in  its 
success ;  it  is  altogether  a  labour  of  love  on  his  part, 
and,  however  humble,  he  sincerely  considers  it — a  la- 
bour of  honour ! 

JOHN  CAMFBELL. 

Tabernacle  House, 
April  20,  1838. 


CONTENTS 


Parting  Dedicatory  Address, 7 

The -Missionary  Farewell, 11 

VALEDICTORY  SERVICES. 
■.Hymn—"  Who  are  those  that  go  with  gladaess," 13 

I. 
^Introductory  Prayer.— Rev.  J.  P.  Smith,  D.  D 14 

n. 

•Opening  Address.— W.  Bateman,  Esq 19 

m. 

Origin,  Progress,  and  FtrTURE  Prospects  of  the  South  Sea 

Mission,— Rev.  William    Ellis, 21 

Hymn—"  Softly  blow,  yefav'ring  breezes!" 31 

IV. 
Christian  Friendship,  and  Considerations  which  Mitigate 

THE  Sorrows  of  Separation,— Rev.  J.Clayton,  Jun.,M.  A.    42 
Hymn—"  Ye  Messengers  of  Christ," qq 

V. 

Success  of  Mr.  Williams's  Labours  ;  his  Position  as  a  Mis- 
sionary :  AND  Presentation  of  Books,— Rev.  J.  Campbell,    62 
•Hymn—"  Father  of  mercies !  condescend" 72 


VI  CONTENTS. 

VI. 

Page 
Missionary  Objects,  Means,  Motives,  and  Encouragements, 

—Rev.  John  Williams, 73 

Hymn— "  Farewell  to  my  country  and  home," 106 

VIT. 

Commendatory  Prayer,— Rev.  George  Clayton, 107 

Hymn — "  Obedient  to  thy  great  command," 115 

vm. 

Narrative  of  the  Excursion  to  the  Missionary  Ship,  and 
Subsequent  Events, — Rev,  J.  Campbell, 116 

EX. 

Report  of  the  Committee  of  the  Common  Council  of  the 
City  of  London,  on  the  Petition  of  the  Rev.  John 

W^ILLIAMS 139 


PARTING  DEDICATORY  ADDRESS. 


To  the  British  Churches^  supporters  of  the  London 
Missionary  Society^  and  the  Friends  of  Missions 
generally,   resident  in  the  Provinces, 

Beloved  Friends, 

This  day  has  removed  me  once  more  from  my  native 
soil,  and  placed  me  on  the  mighty  waters.  The  vale- 
'^ictory  services,  connected  with  my  departure,  are  over. 
1  have  now  bid  adieu  to  the  Church  and  Congrega- 
tion with  which  I  was  originally  connected,  and  whose 
affectionate  solicitude  I  have  deeply  felt;  also  to  the 
Metropolitan  Churches  generally,  from  whom  I  have 
received  so  much  attention  and  kindness;  and  it  only 
remains  that,  from  the  fulness  of  my  heart,  I  address 
myself  to  you. 

I  count  it  no  ordinary  felicity  that  Providence  has 
brought  me  into  contact  with  so  many  of  the  excellent  of 
the  earth,  and  honoured  me  with  the  acquaintance  and 
friendship  of  such  a  multitude  amongst  you.  I  avail 
myself  of  this  opportunity  of  tendering  my  most  sincere 
and  cordial  thanks  to  all  and  each  of  you,  for  the  innu- 
merable acts  and  expressions  of  Christian  sympathy 
which  I  have  received  at  your  hands  during  my  late 
sojourn  in  our  beloved  country.  But  grateful — very 
grateful  as  I  feel,  for  all  such  acts  and  expressions,  they 
sink  into  insignificance  when  compared  with  that  profu- 
sion of  kindness  and  generosity  which  you  have  display- 


8  PARTING    DEDICATORY    ADDRESS. 

ed  towards  that  great  and  glorious  object,  which  is 
dearer  to  me  than  life — the  diffusion  of  the  Gospel  in 
the  Islands  of  the  South  Seas.  The  Master  must  pre- 
cede the  disciple,  and  the  servant  give  place  to  his 
Lord.  With  me  the  romance  of  youth  has  long  passed 
away,  and  all  is  now  become  sober  and  serious  reality. 
I  feel  daily  more  and  more  that  life,  and  health,  and  all 
things  are  desirable  and  valuable,  chiefly  as  connected 
with  the  service  of  God  in  the  Gospel  of  Christ.  My 
sun  hath  somewhat  passed  his  meridian,  and  I  find  that 
now  there  is  not  an  hour  to  be  lost;  while  it  is  yet  day, 
1  must  about  my  Master's  business,  and  he  who  helps 
me  onward  is  twice  my  friend. 

The  leading  design  of  my  present  voyage  to  the  South 
Seas  is  detailed  in  that  portion  of  the  following  publica- 
tion which  is  ascribed  to  me — a  portion  which,  I  am 
fully  aware,  presents  but  slender  claims  to  public  notice, 
unless  as  connected  with  that  design.  Amid  the  hurry 
and  distraction  of  the  present  hour,  and  the  tumult  at- 
tendant on  preparation  for  our  departure,  and  the  mani- 
fold occupations  of  the  last  few  weeks,  there  was  little 
leisure  and  less  quiet,  and  not  much  disposition  for  in- 
tellectual labour,  or  the  refinements  of  composition. 
As  it  is,  I  now  present  it  to  you,  and  hope  you  will  re- 
ceive it  as  a  humble  token  of  grateful  and  affectionate 
remembrance.  I  am  also  pleased  with  the  privilege  of 
presenting,  at  the  same  time,  the  other  articles  which  ac- 
company it,  and  which,  I  hope,  may  contribute  to  divert 
attention,  somewhat,  from  a  too  severe  and  undivided 
notice  of  that  which  falls  to  my  share. 

The  whole  service  is  here  given  in  order.     This  cir- 
cumstance is  somewhat  extraordinary,  but  so  was  the        / 
occasion.     By  this  means  the  pleasures  of  that  memo-       / 
rable  night  will  be  multiplied,  and  the  impression,  in  a    /' 
small  degree,  diffused  over  a  wider  surface.     I  feel  very 
confident  that  this  will  supply  not  a  little  gratification 
to  multitudes  of  the  friends  of  Missions  generally,  and 
especially  of  this  my  particular  division  of  the  field — the 
South  Seas.     From  the  Addresses  of  my  beloved  and 
honoured  brethren  here  recorded,  I  anticipate  that  some 


PARTING    DEDICATORY    ADDRESS.  9 

pleasure  and  much  good  will  result.  May  the  blessing 
of  the  Most  High  acconnpany  them  to  every  reader  !  Is 
it  too  much  to  expect  that  the  beautiful,  tlie  affectionate, 
the  appropriate,  and  devout  supplications  here  contained, 
will  be  offered  up  afresh  by  thousands  of  readers  at  a 
distance  ?  If  this  be  realized,  the  end  of  their  publica- 
tion will  be  answered ;  if  not,  it  will  principally,  but  not 
wholly,  fail ;  for  it  will  be  a  comfort,  in  after  months 
and  years,  to  my  companions  in  voyaging  and  labour, 
and  to  myself,  in  seasons  of  discouragement  and  de- 
pression, to  sit  down  and  peruse  those  prayers  afresh, 
and  to  think  that  they  have  been  already  presented  to 
the  God  of  Heaven,  and  recorded  before  the  eternal 
throne.  I  do  also  persuade  myself,  that  the  exquisitely 
beautiful  and  most  appropriate  hymns  will  excite  much 
interest  amongst  young  people  of  both  sexes,  and  stir 
up  a  spirit  of  Missions  in  their  tender  bosoms.  The 
Lord  of  the  harvest  grant  it,  for  his  name's  sake  ! 

In  conclusion,  I  would  beg  you  and  all  my  friends  to 
cherish  moderate  and  reasonable  expectations  respecting 
my  exploratory  voyage.  You  will  doubtless  remember 
that  we  are  only  instruments,  and  that  no  undertaking, 
however  well  devised,  liberally  supported,  and  zealously 
conducted,  and  prudently  executed,  can  succeed  without 
the  Divine  blessing,  or  beyond  the  measure  of  that  bless- 
ing. "  It  is  not  by  might,  nor  by  power,  but  by  his 
Spirit ;"  he  alone  "  giveth  the  increase."  He  has,  ne- 
vertheless, connected  means  with  ends ;  the  former  are 
ours,  the  latter  his  own.  He  has  conferred  high  honour 
on  you,  beloved  brethren,  and  upon  other  British  Chris- 
tians, in  making  you  and  them  the  instruments  of  his 
goodness,  and  the  heralds  of  his  mercy,  to  nations  still 
sitting  in  the  region  of  the  shadow  of  death.  Oh !  breth- 
ren, be  sensible  of  this.  To  promote  the  cause  of  Mis- 
sions is  Britain's  first  duty,  true  glory,  and  best  interest ! 

I  came  to  England  in  "weakness  and  fear,  and  in 
much  trembling ;"  but  the  cordial  welcome  with  which  I 
was  greeted,  the  kind  acceptance  with  which  my  imper- 
fect public  services  were  every  where  received,  the 
manner  in  which  my  missionary  labours  have  been  ap- 


10       PARTING  DEDICATORY  ADDRESS. 

predated,  the  cordial  approbation  with  which  my  plans 
of  promoting  the  work  of  Missions  have  been  approved, 
and  the  signal  liberality  with  which  they  have  been 
supported,  have  all  tended  to  encourage  my  heart,  and 
to  cheer  me  on  in  the  course  which  Providence  has 
marked  out,  and  to  follow  which  is  felt  to  be  not  more 
my  duty  than  my  choice.  With  this  course  and  this 
cause  I  am  now  identified.  Need  I  say,  that  in  this 
service  I  am  seeking  not  my  own  but  my  Master's  glo- 
ry ?  I  beg  distinctly,  deliberately,  and  solemnly,  as  in 
the  sight  of  God,  to  avow,  that  I  am  not  conscious  of 
having  in  view  any  selfish  object  which  in  this  world 
can  be  of  the  slightest  benefit  to  me ! 

If  after  many  years'  bitter  experience  and  frequent 
deception,  I  know  any  thing  of  my  own  heart,  I  leave 
my  country  with  a  single  eye,  with  a  single  aim  ;  and  1 
therefore  go  forth  with  the  promise  of  God  to  Moses  for 
my  support :  "  Certainly  I  will  be  with  thee. "  But  next 
to  the  Divine  presence,  approbation,  and  aid,  I  desire 
the  prayers,  confidence,  and  co-operation  of  his  people  ; 
I  rely  upon  the  enjoyment  of  them,  and  feel  assured  I 
shall  not  be  disappointed  in  my  expectations. 

It  may  be  that  I  am  looking  on  the  spires  of  the  me- 
tropolis, with  all  its  greatness  and  glory,  and  the  banks 
of  the  Thames,  with  all  its  wonders,  wealth,  and  beauty, 
for  the  last  time,  and  that  I  "  shall  return  no  more,  nor 
see  my  native  country."  Great,  of  course,  are  the 
perils  that  await  me.  I  may  not  again  come  back  to 
rejoice  at  the  first  sight  of  the  lofty  cliffs  and  lovely 
plains  of  Old  England :  well,  the  will  of  the  Lord  be 
done !  I  shall  be  entombed  in  the  ocean,  or  sleep  in  a 
foieign  land,  in  the  Isles  of  the  South,  on  the  field  of  my 
labours,  and  among  the  graves  of  my  children  !  Should 
this  be  the  case,  it  is  a  matter  of  sincere  satisfaction  to 
leave  behind  me  this  small  memorial  of  my  strong  affec- 
tion ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  should  the  Lord  preserve 
my  life  and  prosper  my  undertaking,  I  may  yet  again  re- 
turn to  tell  of  his  goodness,  and  to  receive  the  gratu- 
lations  of  you,  my  Christian  brethren  and  beloved  friends. 
Time  alone  can  reveal  the  will  of  Heaven.     I  would 


PARTING    DEDICATORY    ADDRESS.  11 

wait   that  revelation  in  the  spirit  of  holy  submission, 
love,  and  obedience. 

Finally,  brethren,  farewell !  Pray  for  us — 0  pray  for 
us !  We  are  now  rapidly  moving  down  the  river,  sur- 
rounded by  the  Directors  and  a  multitude  of  faithful 
friends,  who,  in  the  true  spirit  of  Christianity,  are  come 
to  "  accompany  us  unto  the  ship,"  which  lies  off  Graves- 
end.  Another  hour  or  two,  and  we  part ;  they  return  to 
their  avocations,  and  we  pursue  our  voyage.  This 
moment  of  excitement  will  have  passed  away  as  a 
vision  of  the  night.  To  one  and  all  I  now  say — adieu  ! 
To  friends  in  England,  Scotland,  Ireland— Farewell ! 
Farewell !  Peace  be  with  you  !  Peace  now  and  ever- 
more !  Peace  and  prosperity  to  the  Churches  of  Christ 
— peace  and  prosperity  to  my  native  land ! 


THE  MISSIONARY  FAREWELL. 

Yes,  my  native  land,  I  love  thee  !* 
All  thy  scenes,  I  love  them  well ; 

Nor  for  aught  do  I  reprove  thee, 
Though  I  bid  thee  now^ — Farewell, 
Can  I  leave  thee, 

Far  in  heathen  lands  to  dwell? 

Home  !  thy  joys  are  heart-entrancing, 
Joys,  no  stranger  heart  can  tell ! 

Home  !    my  thoughts  to  thee  are  glancing  ; 
Can  I  say  to  thee — Farewell  ? 
Can  I  leave  thee. 

Far  in  heathen  lands  to  dwell? 

Scenes  of  sacred  peace  and  pleasure. 

Holy  day,  and  Sabbath  bell. 
Sweetest  joys,  and  richest  treasure! 

Can  I  say  a  last — Farewell  ? 
Can  I  leave  you. 
Far  in  heathen  lands  to  dwell  ? 


*  This  and  all  the  following  Hymns  are  taken  from  Campbell's 
"  Compreheusive  Hymn  Book,"  published  by  J.  Snow,  raternoster-row, 
London. 


12  PARTING    DEDICATORY    ADDRESS. 

Yes  !  I  hasten,  though  full  sadly, 
From  the  scenes  I  love  so  well ; 

Grievinp,  still  I  leave  them  gladly, 
Home  and  native  land — Farewell! 
Pleas'd  I  leave  you. 

Far  in  heathen  lands  to  dwell. 

I  to  God  would  be  approved : 
On  the  mountains  I  would  tell 

How  he  died,  God's  Son  beloved, 
To  redeem  a  world  from  hell : 
Home  !  I  leave  thee. 

Far  in  heathen  lands  lo  dwell. 

Bear  me  on,  thou  restless  ocean ! 

Let  the  winds  my  canvass  swell ; 
Heaves  my  heart  with  warm  emotion, 

While  I  £^o  far  hence  to  dwell ! 
Home!  I  leave  thee  ; 
Native  land — Farewell  !  Farewell  ! 


J.  WILLIAMS. 


On  board  the  City  of  Canterbury, 

Steam  Vessel.— April  11,  1838. 


VALEDICTORY  SERVICES. 

These  services  excited  a  veiy^ftttense- interest. 
Six  o'clock  was  the  appointed  hour  for  the  meet- 
ing to  commence,  but  people  began  to  assemble 
so  early  as  three  in  the  afternoon.  After  the 
opening  of  the  doors,  the  Tabernacle  soon  became 
considerably  filled.  By  five  the  spacious  building 
was  densely  crowded  by  one  of  the  most  respect- 
able assemblages  that  ever  met  within  its  walls. 
Hundreds  upon  hundreds  continued  to  flock,  and 
press  for  admittance,  but  without  success. 

Arrangements  had  been  made  at  the  Tabernacle 
House  for  the  neighbouring  ministers,  for  the  mis- 
sionaries, and  others,  to  take  tea  at  four  o'clock. 
At  six,  William  Bateman,  Esq.,  Manager  of  the 
Tabernacle  and  Tottenham-court  Chapel,  and 
Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  took  the 
chair,  and  the  service  was  commenced,  by  the 
Rev.  Edward  Mannering,  giving  out  the  following 

HYMN. 

For  his  name's  sake  they  went  forth. — John  iii.  7. 

Who  are  tliose  that  go  with  gladness 

Far  from  friends  and  native  land? 
By  the  world  't  is  counted  madness, 
But  they  do  not  understand  : 

God  is  with  them, 
And  tliey  go  at  his  command. 
2 


14  INTRODUCTORY   PRAYER, 

These  are  citizens  of  Zion  ; 

Once  ihey  loved  the  world  alone  : 
Inow  his  promise  they  rely  on 

Who  has  claimed  them  as  his  own; 
And  he  bids  them 

Go,  and  make  his  mercy  known. 

Theirs  are  toils,  and  theirs  are  dangers, 
While  they  traverse  land  and  sea; 

Far  from  home,  'midst  foes  and  strangers. 
Is  their  lot  ordained  to  be, 
W^hile  they  publish 
Grace  to  sinners,  rich  and  free. 

Grace  be  with  them,  truth  and  mercy^ 
In  the  work  they  have  to  doj 

Theirs  an  awful  controversy — 
Awful,  and  yet  glorious  too: 

Grace  be  with  them, 
To  whatever  clime  they  go  ! 

Blessings  from  the  Saviour  speed  them, 
And  make  every  burden  light ! 

May  the  hand  of  mercy  lead  them 
Safe  to  yon  celestial  height, 

Where  for  ever 
All  is  pure,  and  all  is  bright! 


INTRODUCTORY  PRAYER. 

REV.  J.  P.  SMITH,  D.D. 

Great  art  thou,  0  Lord,  in  the  churches  of 
thy  saints  !  Unto  thee  shall  the  vows  be  paid 
which  thy  children  have  made  in  the  time  of  their 
distress  and  anxiety.  The  encouragement  of  mer- 
cies bestowed  shall  awaken  confidence,  united  with 
gratitude.  And  now  we  are  permitted  to  unite  in 
approaching  thy  holy  throne  with  thanksgiving, 
supplication,  and  intercession.  What  hath  God 
wrought ! 


BY   THE    REV.    J.    P.    SMITH,    D.D.  15 

We  praise  thee,  O  Lord,  that  thou  reignest,  and 
that  thou  wilt  reign,  with  uncontrollable  power, 
with  wisdom  which  shall  meet  every  machination 
of  thine  enemies,  and  with  that  overflowing  grace 
which  triumphs  through  righteousness  unto  eternal 
life,  by  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 

Glory  be  to  the  Father,  and  to  the  Son,  and  to 
the  Holy  Ghost — the  one  God,  for  the  eternal 
purpose  of  love,  for  the  holy  law,  for  the  plan  of 
redemption,  for  the  preparatory  dispensation  of 
Moses,  and  of  the  prophets ;  for  the  arrangements 
of  that  providence  by  which  thou  didst  prepare 
the  nations  of  the  earth,  and  adjust  all  temporal 
events  to  the  most  suitable  point  of  time,  when 
thou  didst  send  forth  thy  Son,  made  of  a  woman, 
made  under  the  law.  We  praise  thee,  O  Father, 
for  the  Divine  testimony  borne  to  him;  for  his 
doctrine  and  his  example  ;  for  his  holy  obedience, 
by  which  he  magnified  the  law,  and  conferred 
honour  upon  it ;  for  his  expiation  of  sin  by  his 
sufferings,  and  death,  and  atonement ;  for  his  re- 
surrection, and  exaltation,  and  his  reign  in  glory  ; 
for  the  progress  of  his  kingdom  ;  for  the  pouring 
out  of  his  Spirit ;  for  the  preservation  of  his  truth 
through  so  many  ages  of  apostacy,  corruption, 
persecution,  carnality,  lukewarmness,  and  mani- 
fold enmity. 

We  praise  thee,  O  God  !  we  acknowledge  thee 
to  be  the  Lord ;  and  we  ascribe  thanksgiving,  and 
honour,  and  glory,  and  majesty,  and  blessing,  with 
gratitude  to  thee,  for  the  thousands  and  millions 
who  have  found  mercy.  Blessed  are  our  eyes,  for 
they  see,  and  our  ears,  for  they  hear,  the  glorious 
things  which  our  fathers  would  have  exulted  in, 
but  were  not  permitted  to   witness.     Blessed  be 


16  INTRODUCTORY    PRAYER, 

God,  that  in  these  latter  days  thou  hast  raised  up 
a  spirit  in  the  minds  of  thy  servants  ;  thou  hast 
awakened  sympathy  to  the  long-neglected  duty  of 
caring  for  the  world  at  large  ;  and  thou  hast,  in 
our  time,  effected  what  the  most  sanguine  hopes 
would  not,  a  few  years  ago,  have  dared  to  look  for. 
Praise  to  thy  name  for  the  triumphs  of  thy  truth 
in  the  different  regions  of  the  world  to  which  mis- 
sionary operations  have  been  directed!  Glory  for 
ever  be  to  God,  that  many  have  been  brought  out 
of  darkness  into  marvellous  light,  and  from  the 
power  of  Satan  into  the  kingdom  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  to  experience  the  pardoning  and  purifying 
efficacy  of  his  blood,  and  to  be  made  partakers  of 
the  inheritance  of  the  saints  in  light !  Especially, 
amid  so  wide  a  field  of  delightful  considerations, 
we  bless  thee  for  the  association  which  this  meet- 
ing holds  with  the  islands  of  the  great  Pacific 
Ocean.  How  wondrous  thy  mercy  there  !  0, 
how  should  we  be  humbled,  how  should  we  be 
quickened  and  encouraged  !  0  Lord,  we  do  not 
presume  to  think  that  by  our  prayers  we  can 
work  upon  thine  infinite  mind,  or  produce  an 
effect  upon  thy  disposition  ;  for  we  know  that  thy 
counsels  of  old  are  faithfulness  and  truth,  and 
that  thy  love  is  infinite.  We  praise  thee  that 
thou  hast  united  success  with  prayer  ;  that  thou 
hast  made  it  our  duty,  as  it  is  our  high  privilege, 
to  inquire  of  thee  ;  to  plead  at  thy  footstool  ;  to 
entreat  thee  to  arise,  and  show  the  glory  of  thy 
face  ;  to  make  thy  cause  a  praise  in  the  whole 
earth.  We  bless  thee  for  the  union  of  the  faith 
of  Christians,  and  for  the  express  supplication  of 
thy  children  in  connexion  with  the  grand  success 
promised  in  thy  word.     We  praise  thee,  that  weak, 


BY   THE    REV.    J.    P.    SMITH,    D.D.  17 

and  poor,  and  feeble  as  we  are,  we  are  permitted 
to  join  with  the  universal  Church  of  God  on  earth, 
and  with  the  glorified  Church  in  heaven,  in  crying, 
How  long,  Lord,  how  long  shall  thine  enemies 
triumph  ?  How  long  shall  Satan,  anti-Christian 
apostacy,  heathen  corruption,  Mohammedan  im- 
posture and  wickedness, — how  long  shall  cor- 
rupted and  abased  Christianity, — how  long  shall 
the  many  evils  which  we  see,  exercise  their  dread- 
ful influence  upon  the  understanding  and  the 
passions  of  men  1  But  thou  hast  determined 
to  overcome  these  evils,  and  thou  hast  fixed  the 
instrumentality — the  preaching  of  the  Cross. 

Now,  then,  as  we  are  come  together  to  commit 
to  Thee  our  beloved  brethren,  and  their  families 
and  associates,  who  are  going  upon  this  great  ex- 
pedition of  pity  and  mercy,  great  God,  we  beseech 
thee  to  pour  upon  this  great  assembly  the  Spirit 
of  grace  and  supplication !  Grant  to  every  mind 
an  appreciation  of  the  important  object !  Grant 
to  every  soul  a  tender  love  for  the  souls  of  fellow- 
men,  a  just  and  scriptural  estimate  of  the  method 
that  thou  hast  appointed  for  making  known  thy 
way  upon  earth,  and  bringing  the  heathen  to  the 
love  of  Jesus  !  0  grant  that  every  heart  may 
be  moved  to  social  union  and  fellowship  with  our 
beloved  friends  of  whom  some  of  us  have  taken 
leave,  and  with  whom  the  majority  of  us  must 
take  leave  this  evening !  0  God,  to  thee  we 
commit  them  ;  and  we  rejoice  that  thou  art  every 
where  present.  They  cannot  go  from  union  with 
us  at  the  throne  of  grace  ;  they  cannot  go  from 
oneness  of  mind  and  spirit  with  their  brethren 
and  sisters  here,  who,  while  they  are  in  opposite 
2* 


18  INTRODUCTORY    PRAYER, 

parts  of  the  globe,  still  will  hold  fellowship  with 
them  by  the  Spirit  of  grace  and  of  supplication. 

Heavenly  Father,  smile  upon  the  addresses  and 
various  exhortations  which  shall  this  evening  be 
delivered,  and  let  an  impression  be  made  upon 
every  mind  here  that  shall  be  productive  of  sancti- 
fication  in  our  hearts,  of  renewed  devotedness  to 
thee,  of  more  constant,  and  fervent,  and  assiduous 
exertions,  and  of  all  those  blessed  results  which, 
in  the  heavenly  world,  shall  unite  us  indissolubly 
to  our  beloved  friends,  and  shall  lead  us  with 
them,  and  the  missionaries  who  have  gone  before, 
and  who  may  follow  after,  and  who,  in  every  part 
of  the  earth,  have  erected  the  standard  of  the 
cross,  to  unite  before  the  throne,  to  unite  with 
the  countless  multitudes  redeemed  from  among 
men,  to  unite  with  the  angels  who  never  sinned, 
and  to  say.  Blessing,  and  honour,  and  glory,  and 
power,  and  might,  and  majesty,  and  dominion,  be 
unto  Him  who  sitteth  upon  the  throne,  and  unto 
the  Lamb  that  was  slain,  and  who  hath  redeemed 
us  to  God  by  his  blood. 

Now,  Lord,  pour  upon  us  the  spirit  of  love,  of 
faith,  of  submission,  of  confidence,  of  united  hu- 
miliation, and  yet  delightful  expectation,  resign- 
ing all  to  thy  sovereign  disposal,  and  rejoicing 
that  thy  will  shall  be  done  on  earth  as  it  is  in 
heaven.  Come,  then.  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly! 
Come,  by  the  grace  of  thy  Spirit,  and  fill  every 
heart,  and  prepare  the  way  for  thy  progress 
throughout  the  earth  !  Send  forth  thy  light  and 
thy  truth  !     Glorify  thy  name  ! 

Now,  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  himself,  and  God, 
even  our  Father,  which  hath  loved   us,  and  hath 


BY   THE    REV.    J.    P.    SMITH,  D.D.  19 

given  us  everlasting  consolation,  and  good  hope 
through  grace,  comfort  our  hearts,  and  especially 
the  hearts  of  our  beloved  missionary  brethren  and 
sisters,  and  stablish  them  and  us  in  every  good 
word  and  work,  to  the  praise  of  the  glory  of  his 
grace !    Amen. 


The  Chairman  then  rose  and  said,  I  must 
apologize  to  you  for  having  taken  the  chair  upon 
the  present  occasion,  but  I  felt  it  to  be  an  impera- 
tive duty.  I  was  induced  to  accede  to  the  wishes 
of  my  friends,  on  various  grounds.  I  have  been 
appointed  chairman  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of 
the  London  Missionary  Society  for  the  current 
year,  and  I  am  unwilling  that  my  friends,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Williams,  should  suppose  by  my  refusal  now 
to  preside  that  there  is  a  want  of  respect  to  them. 
I  have  also  the  consolation  of  knowing  that  the 
duties  which  will  now  devolve  upon  me  will  be 
but  trifling.  Thus  much  for  myself ;  but  I  cannot 
resume  my  seat  without  recalling  to  your  recollec- 
tion what  took  place  forty-two  years  ago,  when 
it  was  announced  from  the  pulpit  of  this  place, 
that  the  Missionary  Society  would  commence  its 
operations  in  the  South  Seas.  What  has  God 
wrought  subsequently  to  that  time  !  What  has 
been  the  effect  of  the  mission  in  that  part  of  the 
world  !  Our  beloved  friend  is  here  this  evening 
to  remind  you  of  his  labours  in  that  part  of  the 
heathen  world  to  which  he  was  sent,  and  where 
such  beneficial  results  have  accrued.  He  is  not 
now  about  to  depart  to  Otaheite  only,  but  to  ex- 
plore islands  yet  unknown.     We  hope  and  trust 


20 


INTRODUCTORY    ADDRESS. 


that  he  will  be  successful  ;  and  that  we  shall  have 
the  happiness  of  hearing,  by  the  goodness  and 
mercy  of  God,  that  he  has  been  instrumental  in 
unfurling  among  them  the  standard  of  the  Cross  ; 
that  from  time  to  time  we  shall  hear  of  results 
similar  to  those  which  have  warmed  the  hearts  of 
Christians  in  this  country,  and  tended  so  much  to 
promote  the  missionary  cause.  I  apprehend  that 
the  successful  efforts  made  in  the  South  Seas  have 
been  the  means  of  impressing  British  Christians 
with  the  importance  of  missionary  labour.  Hav- 
ing said  thus  much,  I  will  now  call  on  the  Rev. 
Wm.  Ellis  to  furnish  a  statement  of  the  rise,  pro- 
gress, and  future  prospects  of  the  mission  in  the 
South  Seas  ;  and  in  doing  so,  1  apprehend  that  you 
will  all  agree  with  me,  that  no  individual  can  be 
found  who  could  give  that  account  with  more  pro- 
priety than  he,  having  laboured  there  for  so  many 
years  ;  and  I  feel  grateful  that  he  is  with  us  this 
evening. 

Allow  me,  in  conclusion,  to  remind  you  of  the 
enlarging  sphere  of  the  Society's  operations,  and 
the  consequent  increase  of  expenditure.  It  is  a 
fact,  that  this  year  upwards  of  sixty  individuals 
will  be  sent  forth  to  various  regions  of  the  world, 
to  promote  the  knowledge  of  the  Redeemer.  This 
circumstance  calls  for  gratitude  and  praise  to  the 
Lord  of  the  harvest.  Let  us,  therefore,  sustain 
them  by  the  prayer  of  faith,  and  by  generous  con- 
tributions. 


ADDRESS 


BY    THE 


REV.  WILLIAM  ELLIS, 

On  the  Origin^  Progress,  and  Future  Prospects  of 
the  South  Sea  Mission, 

My  Christian  Friends, — The  present  is  one 
of  those  occasions  of  deep  and  holy  joy  with 
which  the  Church  has  been  but  rarely  favoured. 
Half  a  century  has  nearly  passed  away  since  a 
meeting  was  convened  for  a  purpose  similar  to 
that  in  connexion  with  which  we  are  now  assem- 
bled. It  is  true,  that  during  this  period  our 
vessels,  at  the  call  of  patriotism,  or  of  fame,  or  for 
the  purpose  of  advancing  the  interests  of  science 
or  commerce,  have  gone  forth ;  their  canvass  has 
whitened  the  waters  of  every  sea,  their  banners 
have  floated  on  every  breeze,  and  their  exploits 
have  enhanced  our  nation's  glory.  It  is  true, 
that  a  southern  continent  has  during  this  period 
been  discovered,  and  the  question  of  a  north- 
west passage  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  has 
been  answered.  In  addition  to  these  achievements 
of  science,  our  commerce  has  been  extended  to 
every  port,  to  almost  every  creek  or  bay  ;  and 
there  is  scarcely  a  continent  or  island,  a  city  or 
town,  or  village,  in  any  part  of  the  habitable 
globe,  in  which  the  traveller  will  not  now  find 
evidence  of  British  enterprise,  industry,  and  skill. 


'*''*  ADDRESS    BY    THE 


The  advancements  of  science  have  favoured  this 
intercourse  between  nations  the  most  remote  : 
distance  is  almost  annihilated,  and,  in  regard  to 
he  means  of  communication,  we  are  now  nearer 
to  India  than    we    were   to   America  fifty  years 

o 

fn^ful'  *^^^^  ""^  ^^''^  ^^^^^^  have  been  put 
foith  for  what  the  nation  has  considered  its  hiohest 
and  most  important  objects,  no  Missionary^Ship 
has  left  our  shores,  no  vessel   has   departed  from 

tTJl?  l?"7n-  ^^'  '^^  '^^"  P"^P°^^  of  conveying 
the  .ght  of  Divme  truth  to  the  nations,  and  carry- 
ing  to  the  utmost  ends  of  the  earth  the  messengers 

Dnff'^'^'i-Q^^  r^'?^'  ''"^"  '^'  departure  of  the 
Duff,  in  ]  /96,  has  left  England  for  these  im- 
portant purposes.  At  the  period  referred  to 
meetmgs  in  kind  similar  to  the  present  were  held 
n  this  city,  and  m  this  neighbourhood,  and  in 
those    services-a   Haweis,   an    Eyre,   a   Hdl,   a 

bank,  a  Townsend,  and  a  Piatt  engaged.  The 
impressions  left  by  the  services  precedhig  the  de- 
parture of  the  Duff  were   retained  by  these  vene- 

murhTr  f /^''''  ''''^  distinctness,  and  with 
much  of  the  holy  intensity  of  feeling  which  they 
produced  at  the  time;  and  they  were  retained  by 
thousands  who  shared  in  the  holy  joy  they  pro- 
duced  even  till  the  latest  period  of  life 

These  honoured  men  have  finished  their  course  ; 
hey   have    closed   their    labours  ;  they  have    en- 

onTv  h'h  M  K  T'^'t  ^"^  '^'''  ''''  5  and  they  not 
only  beheld  before  they  departed  from  the  scene 
ot  their  labours,  success  attending  those  labours 
ar  beyond  what  in  the  most  sanguine  moments  of 
their    brightest    hopes    they   expected    would   be 


REV.    WILLIAM    ELLIS.  23 

realized,  but  we  have  reason  to  believe  that  they 
have  had  the  happiness  of  welcoming  to  the 
realms  of  glory  and  blessedness  the  purified  and 
ransomed  spirits  of  those  who  were  brought  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  truth,  and  to  the  exercise  of 
faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  through  the  tidings 
borne  by  the  messengers  conveyed  in  the  ship 
which  they  on  those  occasions  met  together  to 
commend  unto  God  in  their  prayers. 

The  great  Head  of  the  Church,  my  Christian 
hearers,  is  granting  unto  us  at  the  present  time  a 
privilege  similar  to  that  which  they  enjoyed.  An- 
other xMisswiiary  Ship  is  now  on  the  waters.  The 
cargo  of  that  ship  consists  of  the  elements  of  use- 
ful knowledge — books  for  the  purpose  of  com- 
municating Divine  instruction,  copies  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures  ;  and  in  addition  to  these,  this  vessel 
is  about  to  bear  a  band  of  holy  and  devoted 
brethren,  who  are  going  far  hence  to  the  heathen, 
to  proclaim  amongst  them  the  unsearchable  riches 
of  Christ.  The  vessel  thus  freighted,  and  bear- 
ing a  far  more  important  cargo  than  ever  the  fleets 
of  our  merchants  conveyed  from  our  shores,  is 
about  to  follow  the  track  of  the  Duff  to  the  far 
distant  islands  of  the  sea,  and  we  meet  on  this  oc- 
casion to  testify  our  deep  solicitude  in  the  success 
of  this  holy  enterprise;  to  assure  our  honoured 
brother,  who  is  about  to  lead  this  devoted  band 
to  the  field  of  their  labours,  of  our  entire  confi- 
dence, of  our  sincere  afl^ection,  of  our  fervent 
desires  unto  God  on  his  behalf.  We  meet  thus  to 
encourage  his  heart,  to  endeavour  to  brighten  his 
prospects,  by  assuring  him  that  whatever  diflicul- 
ties  may  attend  his  progress,  we  will  bear  him  on 
our   hearts  ;  that   he  is  not   alone,  is   not  going 


24 


ADDRESS   BY    THE 


forth  unaided  by  the  sympathies  and  prayers  of 
his  brethren  who  remain  behind.  We  meet  to- 
gether for  the  purpose  of  thus  encouraging  him, 
and  commending  him  and  his  beloved  family,  and 
the  companions  in  his  future  labours,  to  God,  and 
to  the  word  of  his  grace,  and  bidding  them  God 
speed  in  the  important  enterprise  on  which  they 
are  about  to  embark. 

It  may  not  be  unsuitable  on  the  present  occa- 
sion briefly  to  glance  at  the  remote  part  of  the 
world  to  which  they  are  destined,  and  the  work 
which  has  been  commenced  and  carried  on  there 
— a  work  which  God  has  signally  favoured,  and 
on  which  His  blessing  continues  to  rest ;  a  work 
which,  we  believe,  will  not  only  be  continued,  but 
will  be  the  means  of  extending  the  glorious  change 
which  has  commenced  there  to  islands  still  more 
remote,  until  all  the  islands  that  spot  the  bosom 
of  the  ocean  shall  be  enlightened  by  the  truth,  and 
pervaded  by  the  principles  of  the  Gospel  of  the 
grace  of  God. 

I  need  not  now  occupy  your  time  by  describ- 
ing the  circumstances  which  led  (about  sixty  years 
ago)  to  the  discovery  of  the  island  of  Tahiti,  and 
the  group  called  the  Society  Islands,  or  the  cir- 
cumstances under  which  they  were  subsequently 
visited.  I  will  not  allude  to  the  vivid  and  delight- 
ful impressions  produced  by  the  fascinating  ac- 
counts given  of  the  beauties  of  the  country,  the 
salubrity  of  the  climate,  the  fertility  of  the  soil,  or 
the  prolific  richness  with  which  nature  had  there 
poured  forth  her  bounties,  of  the  comparative 
simplicity  of  the  manners  and  customs  of  the  in- 
habitants of  the  islands,  of  the  imagined  happiness 
in  which  they  dwelt,  and  of  the  theories  which 


REV.    WILLIAM    ELLIS. 


25 


were  deduced  from  these  reports  of  the  compati- 
bility of  a  state  of  nature  with  a  high  degree  of 
enjoyment,  All  these  visions  have  been  dissi- 
pated by  the  evidence  of  truth  adduced  by  those 
who  have  gone  and  dwelt  amongst  them.  You 
will  recollect,  that  after  they  had  been  visited,  after 
curiosity  had  been  excited,  from  one  end  of  the 
kingdom  to  the  other,  and  most  amply  gratified, 
after  the  purposes  of  science  had  been  answered, 
and  it  had  been  discovered  that  there  were  no 
mines  of  gold,  that  there  was  nothing  to  tempt  the 
cupidity  of  commerce,  or  induce  the  investigator 
of  nature  to  revisit  them,  they  were  about  to 
abandon  them,  and  leave  them,  not  only  the  vic- 
tims of  that  superstition  under  which  they  found 
them,  but  a  prey  to  the  vices  and  evils  which  our 
countrymen  had  left  among  them. 

At  this  time  the  attention  of  the  Founders  of  our 
Society  w^as  directed  to  the  Tahitian  and  Society 
Islands,  the  Marquesas,  and  the  Friendly  Islands, 
and  the  interesting  group  called  the  Pelew  Islands. 
The  first  effort  made  by  the  Society  was  to  pur- 
chase a  ship.  With  the  furnishing  of  that  ship  with 
stores  for  the  commencement  of  the  mission,  and 
the  embarkation  of  upwards  of  thirty  individuals  ; 
with  the  history  of  the  interesting  voyage  of  the 
Duflf ;  the  circumstances  under  which  the  missions 
in  Tahiti  and  other  islands  were  commenced  ;  most 
of  those  I  address  are  familiar  ;  but,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  magnifying  the  grace  of  God,  of  exalting 
the  Gospel,  as  the  grand  antidote  to  wretchedness, 
allow  me  to  direct  your  attention  to  the  state  in 
which  our  brethren  and  fathers,  who  preceded  us  in 
this  work,  found  the  people,  of  whom  these  inte- 
resting accounts  were  given,  It  is  true  they  found 
3 


26 


ADDPwESS    BY    THE 


the  country,  as  described,  one  of  the  most  charm- 
ing ever  presented  to  view  ;  the  cUmate  salubrious, 
verdant,  and  lovely  :  all  this  is  true,  and  I  would 
not  for  a  moment  detract  from  the  impression  pro- 
duced by  the  statements  of  these  navigators. 

But  what  was  the  state  of  the  people  1  The 
land  was  full  of  idols,  from  the  house  of  the  highest 
chief  to  the  hut  of  the  lowest  peasant.  From  one 
end  of  the  group  to  the  other  there  were  to  be 
found  the  idols  of  individuals,  the  idols  of  fami- 
lies, the  idols  of  districts,  and  the  idols  of  the 
nation.  I  need  not  say  that  the  idols  are  graphi- 
cally describeg  by  the  pen  of  inspiration,  which  de- 
clares, "Eyes  have  they,  but  they  see  not — ears 
have  they,  but  they  hear  not — mouths  have  they, 
but  they  eat  not — feet  have  they,  but  they  walk 
not;"  and  in  reference  to  which,  it  is  added, 
They  that  make  them  are  like  unto  them — they 
were  altogether  rude,  senseless,  shapeless  objects. 
The  land  was  not  only  filled  with  idols,  but  with 
idol  temples  ;  every  point  of  land  which  projected 
into  the  sea  was  generally  surmounted  by  a  hea- 
then temple  ;  every  lovely  valley  was  generally 
disfigured  by  the  rude  marae  erected  there  for  the 
purpose  of  idol  worship.  Whether  you  travelled 
across  the  mountain  range  or  the  deep  ravine, 
along  the  sea-shore  or  the  verdant  valley,  you  saw 
the  temples  of  the  idols  of  the  country.  It  was  also 
a  land  of  priests — but  they  were  priests  of  dark- 
ness ;  you  would  scarcely  find  a  family  in  which 
some  member  of  it  was  not  a  priest.  If  I  were 
to  select  one  designation  by  which  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  Tahitian  and  Society  Islands,  as  com- 
pared with  those  of  other  groups  in  the  Pacific, 
might  be  characterized,  it  would  be  that  they  were 


REV.    WILLIAM    ELLIS,  27 

a  nation  wholly  given  to  idolatry.  Their  rites 
were  of  the  most  sanguinary  kind.  You  are 
aware  of  the  horrid  circumstances  under  which 
human  sacrifices  were  offered,  and  of  the  frequency 
with  which  they  were  presented  ;  this  was  the  re- 
ligimis  state  of  the  people,  a  state  peculiarly  dis- 
tinguished by  barbarity,  degradation,  and  cruelty. 

Their  social  state  was  not  better,  lou  have 
heard  of  the  extent  to  which  infanticide  prevailed 
amongst  them.  Our  honoured  brother  who  has 
been  there,  and  who  is  about  to  return,  has  him- 
self had  an  opportunity  of  conversing  with  in- 
dividuals whose  own  hands  have  been  imbrued  in 
the  blood  of  not  fewer  than  eishteen  of  their  own 
innocent  offspring.  The  crime  existed  to  such  an 
appalling  extent,  that  but  for  the  character  of  the 
parties  who  had  communicated  the  information, 
we  could  scarcely  believe  their  statements  to  be 
consistent  with  truth.  Other  parts  of  the  system 
were  equally  cruel ;  not  only  did  they  murder 
their  children,  but  the  helpless  and  aged  were 
often  destroyed.  They  were  pierced  with  a  spear, 
they  were  buried  alive,  they  were  starved  to  death, 
in  order  to  avoid  the  inconveniences  of  nursins  or 
attending  to  them  in  sickness  or  old  age.  War, 
you  have  heard,  is  the  delight  of  savages — war 
prevailed  among  the  inhabitants  of  the  South  Seas 
— war  and  superstition  appeared  to  be  the  great 
objects  of  their  lives,  and  war  was  carried  on  with 
the  most  unrelenting  cruelty;  wars  of  extermina- 
tion were  pursued  under  the  influence  of  the  most 
implacable  hatred  and  malice.  These  are  some  of 
the  chief  points  of  the  character  or  state  of  the 
people,  as  they  existed  at  the  time  when  the  mission 
was  commenced  among  them.      Men    appeared 


38  ADDRESS    BY    THE 

demons  in  human  form,  and  women  appeared  an 
odious  personification  of  all  that  is  impure  and 
cruel.     This  was  their  social  character. 

You  may  think,  perhaps,  that  the  picture  has 
been  darkly  coloured,  and  that  Tahiti  must  have 
been  a  gloomy  place — a  dark  spot  amid  the  isles 
of  the  sea  ;  but  such  was  not  the  fact,  this  was 
the  condition  not  only  of  Tahiti  and  the  adjacent 
islands,  but  of  all  the  islands  which  spread  over 
the  bosom  of  that  vast  ocean,  from  South  Ame- 
rica on  the  one  hand,  to  New  Holland  on  the 
other,  from  the  junction  of  America  with  Asia  on 
the  North,  down  to  the  furthest  extremes  in  the 
South,  where  Islands  have  been  discovered.  The 
description  given  of  the  Tahitians  is  equally  ap- 
plicable to  the  hundreds  of  thousands  of  immortal 
beings  by  which  the  other  islands  were  peopled. 

It  was  among  this  people,  in  the  centre  of  all 
this  vast  expanse  of  degradation,  superstition, 
cruelty,  and  murder,  that  our  brethren  commenced 
their  labours.  If  you  take  a  map  of  the  Pacific 
Ocean,  and  look  over  the  space  from  South  Ame- 
rica on  the  one  hand,  to  New  Holland  on  the 
other  ;  look  at  the  islands  from  Easter  Island  and 
the  Marquesas  in  the  East,  and  the  Sandwich  Is- 
lands in  the  North,  the  Austral  Islands  in  the 
South  Sea,  the  Society  Isles  in  the  midst;  look 
still  farther  West,  and  you  will  perceive  the  Her- 
vey,  the  Friendly,  the  Navigators,  the  Fijii  Is- 
lands, the  New  Hebrides,  New  Caledonia,  and 
afterwards  New  Guinea,  with  Tahiti  in  the  centre 
of  this  vast  expanse  of  the  ocean,  and  the  nume- 
rous islands  thus  spread  over  its  bosom ;  and 
when  you  have  surveyed  the  map,  and  borne  in 
mind  the  description  I  have  given  you,  you  will 


REV.    WILLIAM    ELLIS.  29 

have  some  idea  of  the  field  in  which  our  honoured 
predecessors  commenced  their  labours.  Many 
whom  I  am  addressing  took  too  deep  an  interest 
in  that  mission,  watched  its  progress  with  too 
much  solicitude,  waited  with  too  much  anxiety 
for  intelligence  to  allow  their  children  to  be  unin- 
formed as  to  the  progress  of  that  mission,  the  trials 
which  attended  it  during  its  early  stages,  the  long 
night  extending  to  nearly  sixteen  years,  during 
which  their  brethren  laboured  among  the  people, 
and  remained  without  fruit  to  encourage  them  in 
their  labours.  Many  of  those  whom  I  am  now  ad- 
dressing are  not  only  familiar  with  this,  but  with 
the  wonderful  manner  in  which  God  has  shown  that 
his  ways  are  not  as  our  ways,  nor  his  thoughts  as 
our  thoughts.  When  our  hopes  were  almost  gone, 
and  the  prospect  threatened  ultimate  and  complete 
failure,  God  made  bare  his  own  Almighty  arm, 
put  his  hand  to  the  work,  showed  that  it  was  not 
the  work  of  man  but  of  God,  by  producing  that 
astonishing,  entire,  and  universal  change,  which 
led  to  the  overthrow  of  idolatry,  the  reception  of 
instruction,  and  the  establishment  of  Christianity 
among  the  Tahitian  and  neighbouring  islands. 

After  the  rapid  glance  I  have  taken  of  the  state 
of  that  people  at  the  time  our  brethren  arrived, 
allow  me,  in  contrast  therewith,  to  present  to  your 
attention  the  state  of  the  islanders  now. 

Throughout  the  entire  group  called  the  Georgian 
and  Society  Islands,  and  others  within  some  hundred 
miles  around  that  group,  which,  at  the  time  our 
brethren  landed,  were  full  of  idols,  there  is  not  now 
a  single  idol  to  be  found,  and  I  was  about  to  say, 
not  a  temple,  or  a  vestige  of  a  temple;  but  the  ruins 
of  a  fevf  temples,  standing  on  projecting  points  of 
3* 


30 


ADDRESS    BY    THE 


lands,  in  uninhabited  parts  of  the  country,  may 
still  be  seen.  The  relics  of  some  temples  form 
the  foundations  of  the  sanctuaries  of  God — build- 
mgs  in  which  assemblies  as  large  as  that  now  be- 
fore me  are  accustomed  to  meet,  and  to  call  upon 
his  name.  You  find  them  not  only  made  the 
foundation  of  buildings  for  the  worship  of  God, 
but  levelled,  and  constituting  the  solid  foundations 
or  floors  on  which  large  schools  are  erected,  and 
in  which  hundreds  of  children  are  daily  assembled 
to  read,  in  their  own  language,  the  wonderful 
works  of  God. 

In  addition  to  the  destruction  of  the  idols,  there 
is  now  not  to  be  found  a  single  priest.  The  priests 
became  members  of  our  churches,  teachers  of  our 
schools,  helpers  to  the  missionaries  ;  or  they  have 
become  native  missionaries,  who  have  gone  forth  to 
preach  that  faith  which  they  longlaboured  to  destroy. 
I  take  this  opportunity  of  stating,  as  manifesting 
the  power  of  Divine  grace,  that  among  the  men 
who  had  been  the  most  devoted  priests  of  idol 
worship,  were  found,  after  the  Gospel  had  been 
established  among  them,  some  of  the  most  efficient 
and  devoted  helpers  of  the  early  missionaries. 

There  is  not  only  no  idols,  no  temples,  and  no 
priests,  but  there  is  not  a  single  heathen  rite  pub- 
licly maintained  among  them :  all  have  passed  away 
as  if  it  had  been  a  vision,  all  is  now  only  a  matter 
of  history  or  tradition  among  them.  If  we  be 
asked  now,  in  the  language  of  the  prophet,  "  Hath 
a  nation  changed  its  gods?"  we  answer,  A  na- 
tion hath  changed  its  gods  ;  and  we  look  to  the 
entire  rejection  of  idolatry,  and  its  accompani- 
ments, in  the  islands  of  the  South  Sea,  with 
perhaps  one  or  two  exceptions,  as  an  earnest  of 


REV.    WILLIAM   ELLIS.  31 

what  will  take  place  in  India,  in  China,  in  Africa, 
and  in  every  other  part  of  the  world,  when  the 
time  shall  come  that  the  Redeemer  shall  reign 
from  the  river  to  the  ends  of  the  earth. 

Not  only  has  their  idolatry  been  entirely  de- 
stroyed, but  they  have  been  raised  from  the  ab- 
ject state  of  wretchedness  and  degradation  to 
which  idolatry  had  reduced  them.  Science  did 
nothing  towards  this  end.  Philosophers,  who 
went  out  to  watch  the  transit  of  Venus,  did  nothing 
towards  this.  Their  early  visiters  sunk  them  still 
lower,  and  left  them  in  still  more  affecting 
wretchedness  and  degradation  than  they  found 
them.  But  the  missionary  raised  them  ;  the  prin- 
ciples of  that  Gospel  which  the  missionary  carried 
purified  them  ;  the  missionary  elevated  their  moral 
character  ;  and  though  the  missionary  still  has  to 
deplore  the  remains  of  that  depravity  which 
nothing  but  the  grace  of  God  can  subdue,  yet 
he  can  point  to  Tahiti  and  the  adjacent  islands, 
as  irrefragable  evidence  of  the  influence  and 
power  of  the  Gospel  for  raising  the  most  polluted 
and  degraded  people  to  a  state  of  moral  rectitude, 
corresponding  with  that,  I  hesitate  not  to  say, 
which  will  be  found  among  an  equal  portion  ot 
many  parts  of  the  population  of  our  own  country. 
Marriage  was  unknown  among  them,  but  it  has 
been  introduced,  and  prevails  universally.  All 
the  household  comforts,  all  the  domestic  happiness 
that  flow  from  it,  not  only  exist,  but  are  exten- 
sively enjoyed  by  the  inhabitants  of  those  lands. 
Their  children  are  now  no  longer  destroyed,  but  are 
cherished  with  all  the  tenderness  that  the  kindest 
Christian  parents  could  bestow.  The  aged  are  no 
longer  buried  alive,  nor  left  to  perish  for  want, 
<nor  transfixed  by  the  spear  for  the  purpose  of 


32  ADDRESS    BY   THE 

relieving  their  children  from  the  trouble  of  taking 
care  of  them ;  but  they  are  nursed  ;  their  wants 
are  supplied  ;  medicine  is  administered  ;  and  per- 
sons in  many  places  are  appointed  to  visit  them, 
to  read  the  Scriptures,  and  to  pray  with  them. 
And  while  they  thus  smooth  their  passage  to  the 
grave,  they  endeavour  to  open  to  them  the  pas- 
sage leading  to  a  glorious  immortality.  These 
are  the  advantages  which  have  resulted  to  them 
in  their  social  state.  Their  lano-uage  was  rude 
and  unformed ;  letters  were  altogether  beyond 
their  comprehension  ;  but  their  language  has  been 
reduced  to  a  system  ;  orthography  has  been  given 
to  it ;  books  have  been  printed  in  it.  Schools 
have  been  established ;  the  natives  have  been 
taught  reading ;  the  holy  Scriptures  have  been 
translated,  and  are  now  in  circulation  amongst 
them.  The  press  has  been  at  work  for  a  number 
of  years  ;  and  in  addition  to  other  things,  they 
now  have  the  commencement  of  a  periodical 
literature,  diffusing  intelligence,  and,  we  trust, 
piety  also,  among  all  classes  of  the  community. 
There  were,  according  to  the  last  accounts  re- 
ceived from  the  islands,  upwards  of  15,000  scho- 
lars under  instruction,  besides  those  who  had  re- 
ceived instruction  in  previous  years.  I  will  only 
mention  one  other  fact  illustrative  of  the  change, 
and  that  is,  that  there  are  in  these  islands  eighteen 
Christian  churches.  The  returns  from  many  of 
the  islands  have  not  been  made  for  some  time  ; 
but  according  to  the  last  returns  there  were  be- 
tween two  and  three  thousand  natives  who  were 
in  fellowship  among  these  eighteen  churches. 

In  the  progress  of  the  mission  there  were 
many  trials  to  be  endured  ;  trials  arising  from 
various  quarters.     One  heavy  trial  sprung  from 


REV.    WILLIAM    ELLIS.  33 

the  natural  indolence  of  the  people  ;  but  this  was 
partially   removed   when   that  great   change    took 
place  to  which  I  have  adverted.     When  the  ma- 
jority adopted  Christianity,  only  a  few  experienced 
its    power,    and    the    mere    profession    of    Chris- 
tianity  could    not    restrain   vicious  propensities. 
Another  source   of  trial  was  the   introduction  of 
foolish  heresies  among  them,  and  a  third  source 
of  trial  was  the   existence  of  civil  war.     But  the 
most  formidable  difficulties   have  not  been  found 
to   arise  from  the   natives    themselves.     With  all 
the  drawbacks  incident  to   their  defective   Chris- 
tianity, the     greatest   impediments     ha^^e     arisen 
where   we   ought   to   have    expected  the  greatest 
encouragement  and  aid.     The  greatest  discourage- 
ment has   arisen   from  the    unprincipled  seamen, 
who,  for  the  purpose  of  gratifying  a  depraved  pro- 
pensity, have  left  their  vessels,  settled  among  the 
natives,  and  created  vast  mischief;  the  power  of 
man  to  do  mischief  is  amazingly  greater  than  his 
power   to  do   good.     One   wicked  man  among   a 
people  like  the  South  Sea  Islanders  is  capable  of 
effecting  immense  mischief.     Another  source   of 
evil  has   arisen  from  the  introduction   of   ardent 
spirits.      That    has    been     carried    on    with  an 
industry   most    shameful,   and    has    required,    on 
behalf  of  the  natives  exposed  to  its  deadly  evils, 
the  tenderest  sympathy,  and  the  vigorous  efforts 
of  Christians  to  check  the  evil. 

But  notwithstanding  all  this,  I  am  happy  to  be 
able  to  state,  that  the  Lord  has  not  forsaken  the 
work  of  his  hands.  During  the  last  few  years, 
many  throughout  the  islands  have  embraced  the 
Gospel.  Within  the  last  two  years  the  Lord  has 
put  his   hand   a  second    time   to  the  work  ;  and 


34 


ADDRESS    BY    THE 


appears  to  have  revived  his  work  in  the  midst  of 

the  years.  By  the  gracious  outpouring  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  the  missionaries  have  reason  to  beheve 
that  there  has  been  a  revival  of  the  work  of  grace 
on  the  hearts  of  multitudes  of  the  people. 
JVumbers  in  Tahiti  have  flocked  to  the  places  of 
worship,  and  many  are  desirous  of  enrolling  them- 
selves among  the  disciples  of  the  Lord. 

There  is  one  other  feature,  connected  with  the 
history  of  this  mission,  to  which  I  will  briefly  ad- 
vert, namely,  that  the  islanders  have  shown  the 
great  principle  of  the  Gospel  to  be  one  of  self- 
propagation,  and  the  spirit  it  implants  to  be  one 
of  self-consecration.  No  sooner  did  they  them- 
selves understand  the  Gospel,  and  feel  its  power  in 
their  own  hearts,  than  the  prayer  was  offered  up 
that  God  would  graciously  have  compassion  on 
the  ignorant  around,  and  efforts  were  made  for 
the  purpose  of  communicating  to  them  that  know- 
ledge which  they  themselves  possessed.  In  addi- 
tion to  this,  they  came  forward,  expressing  their 
readiness  to  go  and  tell  others  of  the  name  of  Jesus, 
and  point  them  to  the  Lamb  of  God  who  taketh 
away  the  sins  of  the  world.  It  is  a  pleasing  fact, 
that  there  is  no  group  of  islands  within  about  three 
or  four  thousand  miles  of  Tahiti,  now  favoured  with 
the  light  of  the  Gospel,  which  has  not  in  part,  if 
not  altogether,  been  thus  visited  through  the  in- 
strumentality of  the  Christians  of  these  islands. 
The  Paumotu  or  Palliser,  the  Marquesas,  the  Aus- 
tral, the  Hervey,  and  the  Navigators'  Islands,  have 
received  the  Gospel  through  their  labours.  They 
assisted  in  introducing  Christianity  into  the  Sand- 
wich Islands,  and  were  the  pioneers  of  our  Wes- 
leyan  brethren  in  the  Friendly  and  Fijii  Islands. 


REV.    WILLIAM    ELLIS.  35 

God  has  eminently  honoured  the  native  Chris- 
tians as  the  means  of  diffusing  the  Gospel  far 
and  wide  amongst  the  nations  of  the  Pacific. 
I  have  great  pleasure  in  stating,  that  at  no  period 
in  the  history  of  the  missions  in  the  South  Seas 
have  the  stations  been  in  a  state  more  encouraging 
than  at  the  present  time.  In  the  island  of  Raro- 
tonga  between  three  and  four  thousand  persons 
assemble  for  worship  every  Sabbath-day  ;  and 
nearly  three  thousand  children  are  receiving  in- 
struction in  the  schools.  At  the  Samoa  or  Navi- 
gators' Islands  there  are  not  fewer  than  15,900 
persons  under  instruction,  in  connexion  with  our 
different  stations.  The  last  accounts  state,  that 
on  Savaii  there  were  3000,  on  Manono  400,  on 
Upolu  6500,  and  on  Tutuila  6000. 

A  number  of  the  native  converts  in  these 
islands  are  now  united  in  church-fellowship  ;  and 
when  we  contemplate  the  short  period  during 
which  the  missionaries  have  been  engaged  in  their 
labours,  we  cannot  but  thank  God,  and  take 
courage. 

I  have  thus  endeavoured  briefly  to  present  to 
your  attention  the  origin,  and  the  results  of  the 
work  of  God  among  these  distant  islands.  We 
rejoice  in  the  opportunity  now  afforded  us  of  re- 
inforcing the  stations  which  already  exist,  and  of 
making  increased  efforts  to  render  them  still  more 
efficient  for  retaining  the  Gospel  among  them- 
selves, and  of  extending  it  to  others.  In  con- 
nexion, therefore,  with  this  object,  we  contem- 
plate the  departure  of  our  honoured  brethren ; 
some  of  whom  are  going  to  Tahiti,  to  reinforce  our 
first   station ;    others   to    Raiatea ;    some  to   the 


36  ADDRESS    BY    THE 

Marquesas,  others  to  the  Hervey  Islands,  others  to 
the  Navigators' Islands;  that  important  group  which 
is  supposed  to  contain  a  population  of  from  120,000 
to  150,000  ;  and  where  those  at  present  under  the 
influence  of  the  Missionaries  exceed  to  15,000,  a 
number  greater  than  the  inhabitants  of  Tahiti  and 
the  Georgian  Islands  together.  In  addition  to 
this,  we  are  looking  to  those  important  groups 
which  form  part  of  the  chain  that  stretches  across 
the  Pacific,  from  the  Marquesan  Isles  in  the  east, 
along  by  the  Society  Islands,  the  Navigators,  and 
Friendly  Islands,  still  further  to  the  west,  through 
the  New  Hebrides  and  New  Caledonia,  where  they 
approach  New  Holland  on  the  south,  and  extend 
by  New  Britain  and  New  Guinea,  to  the  Asiatic 
Archipelago,  where  our  missionaries  will  meet  their 
brethren  from  Americaand  England,  extending  their 
operations  eastward  from  Singapore  and  the  Straits, 
till  they  unite  and  form  one  vast  chain  of  mission- 
ary stations  from  America  across  the  Pacific  Ocean, 
and  the  various  tribes  shall  form  one  holy  brother- 
hood, united  in  the  spirit  and  principles  of  the 
Gospel  of  Christ. 

These  are  the  ultimate  effects  which  we  contem- 
plate in  sending  forth  our  beloved  brethren,  now 
about  to  proceed  to  the  places  of  their  destination. 

They  are  not  going  to  a  part  of  the  world  in 
which  there  will  be  no  difficulties.  Our  honoured 
brother  who  is  to  lead  them  forth,  is  aware,  to 
some  extent,  of  these.  Difficulties  existed  at  the 
commencement  of  the  mission,  difficulties  exist 
now,  and  may  be  expected  to  continue.  The  chief 
difficulty  is,  not  the  idolatry  or  the  ferocity  of  the 
natives,  but  will  in  part  be  found  to  arise  from  the 


'  REV.    WILLIAM    ELLIS.  37 

unholy  influence  exercised  by  our  countrymen,  or 
others  from  civilized  countries,  who  may  go  among 
them.  After  the  missionary  has  braved  the  dan- 
ger of  venturing  among  cannibals  and  savages;  has 
landed  and  dwelt  safely  among  them  ;  has  secured 
that  protection  for  the  white  man,  without  which  no 
one  would  dare  trust  himself  on  their  shore  ;  those 
who  go  for  the  purposes  of  trade  and  commerce  prove 
sources  of  the  greatest  trial  to  the  missionary, 
and  of  most  extensive  and  destructive  injury  to  the 
people. 

There  are  difficulties  also  to  be  experienced  of 
another  kind.  I  allude  to  the  vigorous  efforts  now 
put  forth  by  the  Roman  Catholic  church,  in  send- 
ing missionaries  to  the  islands  of  the  Pacific,  en- 
tering the  fields  of  labour  we  have  occupied  so 
long,  and  endeavouring  to  turn  the  people  from 
the  faith  and  simplicity  of  the  Scriptures  to  the 
unmeaning  rites  and  ceremonies  connected  with 
the  Romish  church.  Within  the  last  two  or  three 
years  the  most  vigorous  efforts  have  been  made  to 
introduce  popish  missionaries  to  Tahiti,  and  other 
parts  of  the  Pacific,  occupied  by  Protestant  mis- 
sionaries, and  to  islands  where  there  were  native 
teachers  from  our  stations.  In  reference  to  the 
latter  they  have  succeeded  ;  our  native  teachers 
have  been  obliged  to  retire  and  leave  the  Roman 
Catholic  missionaries  there.  I  understand,  by 
persons  from  the  islands,  that  on  almost  every 
eminence  in  the  Gambler  islands  they  have  planted 
a  cross,  and  accustomed  the  people  to  cross  them- 
selves ;  and  that  they  have  baptized  vast  numbers. 
In  a  Catholic  journal  which  I  receive  from  France 
it  is  stated,  that  one  of  the  Romish  missionaries 
has  returned,  has  had  an  audience  with  the  Pope 
4 


38 


ADDRESS    BY    THB 


and  the  Cardinals  at  home.  This  missionary  is 
about  to  return,  accompanied  by  a  number  of  other 
priests  ;  they  are  taking  out  a  handsome  present 
for  the  purpose  of  exciting  a  strong  impression  in 
their  favour.  It  is  said  that  the  Pope  is  sending 
out  a  handsome  dress  as  a  present  to  the  king, 
and  another  to  the  queen,  and  to  confirm  them,  I 
suppose,  in  the  new  faith,  he  is  sending  a  marble 
statue  of  the  holy  Yirgin. 

I  have  no  objection  to  the  Roman  Catholics 
commencing  missions  in  the  South  Seas  ;  there  are 
many  islands  still  destitute  of  missions  from  any 
church  ;  but  it  is  cowardly  and  mean,  and  betrays 
a  spirit  entirely  incompatible  with  every  just  and 
honourable  feeling  that  belongs  to  the  missionary 
cause,  to  come  to  stations  which  others  have  oc- 
cupied for  so  many  years.  There  are  fields  open 
before  them  which  we  have  not  occupied — why 
not  send  their  missionaries  there  ?  why  not  break 
up  new  ground  ?  Why  not  send  their  missionaries 
to  New  Guinea,  to  the  Caroline  Islands,  or  to 
others  with  which  Catholic  countries  are  connected? 
Why  confine  their  efforts  to  obtruding  themselves 
upon  stations  where  others  have  laboured,  in  some 
instances,  for  forty  years  1  I  have  mentioned  this 
circumstance  in  order  to  excite  the  sympathy  of 
friends  at  home — to  show  the  kind  of  difficulties 
that  are  to  be  expected — the  necessity  there  is  for 
keeping  our  loins  girt  and  our  lamps  burning — for 
uniting  in  earnest,  fervent,  and  persevering  prayer 
that  He,  in  dependence  on  whose  protecting 
care  this  work  was  commenced,  that  He  at  whose 
bidding  the  first  brethren  went  forth  and  still 
continue  to  labour,  may  watch  over  the  cause, 
may  preserve  the  infant  churches  of  the  Pacific, 


REV.    WILLIAM    ELLIS.  39 

may  fix  them  firm  on  the  Rock  of  ages,  against 
which  the  gates  of  hell  shall  not  be  able  to  pre- 
vail, and  may  honour  them  to  be  the  instruments 
of  diffusing  a  knowledge  of  the  Gospel  to  the 
uttermost  ends  of  the  earth. 

We  meet  on  the  present  occasion  under  not 
ordinary  circumstances — I  trust  the  Holy  Spirit  is 
present  with  us.  There  are,  no  doubt,  many 
here  who  are  deeply  affected  by  the  solemnities  in 
which  we  are  en^ao-ed  ;  who  look  at  the  brethren 
and  sisters  before  us,  some  of  whom  they  never 
saw  before,  and  whom,  perhaps,  they  never  expect 
to  see  again  in  the  flesh,  and  on  whose  behalf  their 
emotions  are  now  most  delightful  and  intense. 
There  are  many  to  whom  this  occasion  is  one  of  deep 
interest,  but  perhaps  to  no  one  is  it  more  so  than  to 
myself.  It  was  my  privilege  more  than  twenty 
years  ago,  to  go  forth  as  a  missionary  of  the  cross 
to  those  distant  islands,  to  bear  my  humble  tes- 
timony, in  the  name  of  Jesus,  to  aid  in  carrying 
forward  the  work  in  which  my  predecessors  had 
been  honoured  to  engage.  It  was  my  privilege  to 
aid  the  progress  of  the  work  during  one  of  the 
most  interesting  periods  of  its  history  ;  it  was 
my  happiness  and  honour,  and  I  take  pleasure  in 
thus  publicly  stating  it,  to  be  associated  with  my 
honoured  and  beloved  brother,  who,  like  myself, 
was  called  from  the  field,  but  who  has  now  the 
delightful  prospect  of  re-entering  it.  I  esteem  it 
matter  of  devout  acknowledgment  to  God,  that 
he  has  that  prospect.  No  event  that  may  tran- 
spire among  the  present  generation  of  the  inhabit- 
ants of  Tahiti  and  the  adjacent  islands  will  cause 
a  deeper  thrill  of  holy  delight  than  will  be  experi- 
enced when  tidings  shall  be  conveyed  to  their  shores 


40 


ADDRESS,  ETC. 


that  a  vessel  is  approaching,  on  board  of  which 
their  honoured,  revered,  and  valued  friend  and  teach- 
er, is  returning  to  them  again.  I  can  well  imagine 
the  thrill  of  ecstacy  with  which  the  shout  will  run 
along  the  beach  on  which  the  gathering  multitudes 
will  throng  to  bid  him  welcome.  He  goes  forth 
attended  by  many  prayers  and  much  affection  ;  I 
am  sure  this  will  be  grateful  to  his  heart,  and  will 
encourage  him  in  his  labours.  I  should  have  been 
happy  had  my  course  been  directed,  as  his  is  now, 
back  to  those  islands.  Some  years  ago  I  felt  it 
my  duty  to  propose  to  the  Society,  as  he  has  done, 
to  return  to  those  islands,  to  accompany  a  number 
of  missionaries  thither  to  assist  in  settling  them  in 
their  respective  stations,  and  either  to  remain  or 
return,  as  circumstances  might  then  determine  ; 
but  the  Directors  of  the  Society  thought  it  was 
my  duty  to  remain  in  this  country,  and  Divine 
providence  has  still  appeared  to  indicate  that  I 
should  continue  here.  But  though  we  are  thus 
called  to  occupy  different  fields,  T  rejoice  that  we 
are  engaged  in  one  cause,  and  I  trust  aiming  at 
one  object,  that  we  are  animated  by  one  spirit, 
and  depending  on  one  Divine  and  gracious  Lord 
for  success.  I  trust  that  Christ  will  be  magnified 
by  us  both — that  the  savour  of  his  knowledge 
will  be  diffused  far  and  wide — that  we  shall  have 
grace  to  be  faithful  even  unto  death — and  at  last — 
may  the  day  be  far  distant  as  regards  my  brother 
— that  at  last  we  may  enter  into  the  rest  and 
blessedness  that  remaineth  for  the  people  of  God. 


HYMN. 

Softly  blow,  ye  fav'ring  breezes  ! 

Winds  of  heaven,  propitious  smile ! 
Speed  tiie  ship  across  the  ocean 

Safely  to  lier  destined  isle. 
Now  she  rides  the  bounding  billow, 

Proudly  urging  on  her  way  : 
He  who  holds  the  storm  is  with  her— 

God,  the  missionary's  stay  ! 

Fathers,  faint  not :  those  departing 

To  a  friendless,  heathen  shore, 
Go  to  toil  'mid  scenes  of  peril, 

Where  Immanuel  toiled  before. 
Mothers,  weep  not :   those,  your  offspring, 

Bound  to  yonder  pagan  coast. 
Go  to  reap  the  noblest  laurel — 

Go  to  seek  the  poor  and  lost. 

Who  are  these  that  haste  to  greet  thee, 

King  of  men,  in  gathering  crowds? 
AVho  are  these  that  fly  to  meet  thee, 

Rapidly  as  summer's  clouds? 
Lo!  the  ships  of  Tarship,  bearing 

Nobler  freight  than  Ophir  saw. 
Thither,  where  the  isles  are  waiting — 

Waiting  for  Messiah's  lawj 


4* 


ADDRESS 


REV.  JOHN  CLAYTON,  Jun. 

Christian  Friendship^    and  considerations  lohich 
mitigate  the  sorrows  of  Separation. 

That  part  which  ic  assir^ned  to  me  in  the  truly 
interesting  and  delightful  services  of  tais  hallowed 
eve,  is  to  offer  a  short  address  to  that  band  of 
missionary  brethren  and  sisters  who  are  about 
shortly  to  embark  upon  the  mighty  waters,  to 
reach,  we  trust,  the  destined  haven,  and  to  pay 
the  visit  of  Christian  benevolence,  to  that  cluster 
of  islands  in  the  Pacific  Ocean,  commonly  known 
by  the  name  of  the  Navigators.  Of  course,  I  am 
not  called  upon  to  present  you  with  any  exact 
account  of  their  geographical  position,  nor  to  fur- 
nish you  with  any  detail  of  the  character  of  their 
inhabitants,  their  productions,  their  customs,  or 
their  manners  :  these  particulars  may  be  obtained 
from  other  sources.  It  is  quite  sufficient  for  my 
present  purpose  to  say,  that  the  mass  of  those  who 
dwell  on  these  Australian  isles  are  still  sunk  in 
ignorance,  superstition,  vice,  and  wretchedness  ; 
and  that  they  therefore  present  claims  the  most 
powerful  which  we  can  imagine  on  the  compas- 
sion, the  liberality  and  zeal  of  the  Christian  world, 
and  more  particularly  of  those  countries  who,  being 
favoured  with  religious  privileges,  and  having  the 
command  of  commercial  facilities,  should  feel  them- 


REV.    JOHN    CLAYTON,  JUN.  43 

selves  unquestionably  urged  to  the  noblest  exer- 
cises of  that  philanthropy  which  wills  that  all  men 
should  be  saved,  and  come  to  the  knowledge  of 
the  truth. 

To  those  distant  spots  on  the  surface  of  our 
globe,  to  which  I  have  just  now  alluded,  this 
goodly  fellowship  of  Christian  missionaries  is 
about  to  proceed.  A  vessel  has-been  obtained  for 
the  Missionary  Society,  by  the  generosity  of  the 
British  public.  And  happy  am  I  to  state,  that 
noblemen  in  their  palaces,  the  municipal  body  of 
citizens  in  the  metropolis,  as  well  as  many  private 
Christians,  have  united  in  this  effort  of  generosity 
and  benevolence.  And  cold,  and  callous,  and  des- 
titute of  the  best  feelings  of  piety,  must  the  heart 
of  that  individual  be,  who  can  look  on  an  assem- 
bly like  the  present,  and  regard  our  valued  mis- 
sionary brethren  and  sisters,  and  think  on  their 
destination  and  object,  without  strong  and  devout 
wishes  that  God,  the  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth, 
may  favour  them  with  a  prosperous  voyage  ;  may 
take  them  to  the  place  they  are  destined  to  reach  ; 
and,  above  all,  by  his  blessing  upon  their  labours 
and  services,  secure  to  them  that  holy  success  in 
winning  souls  to  Christ  to  which  their  hearts  so 
warmly  aspire. 

For  it  must  be  always  remembered  that 
Christianity,  the  religion  of  the  Bible,  is  not  a 
mere  body  of  orthodox  opinions,  however  im- 
portant ;  or  an  array  of  outward  forms  and  ce- 
remonies of  ecclesiastical  discipline  or  polity, 
whether  more  or  less  expedient ;  or  a  display  of 
external  morality,  however  useful ;  but  it  has 
much  to  do  with  the  passions  and  affections  of  the 
heart.     It  awakens  supreme  love  towards  its  great 


44.  ADDRESS    BY    THE 

Author,  and  it  calls  forth  our  warm  attachment 
towards  those  who  bear  his  image  ;  so  that  we  are 
disposed,  with  the  tenderest  sympathy,  to  weep 
with  those  that  weep,  and  rejoice  with  those  that 
rejoice.  It  excites  in  our  bosoms  an  anxious 
interest  in  the  welfare  of  our  fellow-Christians, 
and  of  our  fellow-labourers  who  are  engaged  in 
preaching  among  the  heathen  the  unsearchable 
riches  of  Christ,  whether  they  reside  in  the  cot- 
tage or  the  mansion,  whether  they  rove  across  the 
plain,  or  traverse  the  seas,  whether  they  are  oc- 
cupied in  advancing  the  honour  of  our  Lord  in 
the  home  circle,  or  ii)  foreign  climes.  Where  its 
possessors  fail  in  the  power  to  communicate  other 
expressions  of  regard,  it^  breathes  the  catholic  and 
importunate  prayer,  *'  Grace,  mercy,  and  peace,  be 
with  all  who  love  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  sin- 
cerity i"  And  when  its  ministers  or  missionaries 
are  about  to  enter  on  some  new  enterprise  of  duty 
and  zeal,  this  will  be  the  appeal  to  Him,  without 
whom  nothing  is  wise,  holy,  or  strong,  "  0  Lord, 
I  beseech  thee,  send  now  prosperity  !" 

Of  all  the  narratives  contained  in  the  inspired 
volume,  there  is  not  to  be  found  one  of  a  more 
deeply  interesting  and  impassioned  character  than 
that  which  records  the  separation  of  the  apostle 
Paul  and  the  members  of  the  Christian  church  at 
Ephesus.  Paul,  like  one  of  our  brethren,  to  whom, 
if  he  were  not  present,  I  should  more  fully  refer 
— was  no  ordinary  man,  no  ordinary  minister  or 
missionary  ;  and  he  stood  in  no  ordinary  relation 
to  the  parties  to  whom  he  was  bidding  a  very  af- 
fectionate farewell.  He  had  just  told  them  that 
he  was  going  to  a  distance  to  labour  and  suffer  in 
the  cause    of  Christ.     He  gave  them  at  parting 


REV.    JOHN    CLAYTON,    JUN.  45 

some  faithful  admonitions  and  warnings  ;  and  af- 
fectionately commended  them  to  God,  and  to  the 
word  of  his  grace.  He  charged  them  to  increase 
in  the  gentle  and  liberal  virtues  of  the  religion  of 
his  Master  ; — to  "support  the  weak,"  and  to  re- 
member the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  he  said, 
*'  It  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive."  And 
thus  the  narrative  closes  :  "  And  when  he  had 
thus  spoken,  he  kneeled  down,  and  prayed  with 
them  all  ;  and  they  all  wept  sore,  and  fell  on 
Paul's  neck,  and  kissed  him,  sorrowing  most  of 
all  for  the  words  which  he  spake,  that  they  should 
see  his  face  no  more.  And" — mark  this  peculiar 
phraseology, — 

"  And  they  accompanied  him  to  the  ship  !" 
My  beloved  brother  Williatns,  ?.nd  ye  his  com- 
panions in  the  kingdom  and  patience  of  Jesus; 
you  whom  we  have  been  committing  by  solemn 
prayer  to  the  care  of  the  Lord  of  providence  and 
grace  ; — suffer  me  also  to  give  you,  in  fulfilment 
of  the  instructions  which  I  have  received,  a  {ew 
words  by  way  of  valedictory  address.  To  night 
we  express  to  you  our  best  and  most  affectionate 
sympathies  and  wishes.  To-night  we  accompany 
you,  in  fact,  to  the  ship  provided  for  your  con- 
veyance to  a  distant  portion  of  the  world.  But 
before  you  step  on  deck,  allow  me,  in  connexion 
with  the  words  which  I  have  repeated,  to  indulge 
in  a  few  reflections  not  inappropriate  to  our  reci- 
procal position  and  mutual  feelings  at  this  hour  ; 
and  that  I  may  not  be  so  desultory  as  to  embar- 
rass and  impede  the  exercise  of  your  memory, 
allow  me  to  place  the  following  remarks  in  order 
before  you  for  meditation. 

L — Mark    the    superiority  of  that  friendship 
which  has  religion  for  its  basis. 


46  ADDRESS    BY    THE 

Comparatively  rare  and  unfrequent  as  true 
friendship  is  in  this  selfish  and  hollow  world,  yet 
I  cannot  bring  myself  to  the  cynical  opinion,  that 
it  is  but  a  shadow  and  a  name.  There  are  many 
delightful  examples  of  its  existence,  in  which  the 
kindly  instincts  of  our  nature  are  reciprocally  ex- 
ercised, and  where  there  is  a  union  of  sentiment, 
of  affection,  and  often  of  interest  and  pursuit.  We 
have  some  instances  of  it,  apart  from  piety,  in 
which  the  friends  have  given  the  strongest  proofs 
of  mutual  attachment,  and  have  even  been  ready 
to  shed  their  blood  for  each  other's  preservation  or 
defence. 

But  I  wish  you  to  remark  concerning  all  these 
ordinary  friendships,  that  thay  are  founded  on  in- 
ferior and  perishing  principles  and  objects  :  on 
benevolent  instincts  and  sympathies  which  are 
liable  to  become  cool  and  to  decay — on  outward 
distinctions,  such  as  beauty,  talents,  genius,  cele- 
brity, fortune,  and  success,  which  fade,  or  which 
make  themselves  wings  and  flee  away — or  simi- 
larity of  common  tastes  and  enjoyments,  which 
may  alter  and  terminate — and  on  alliances  which 
may  be  impaired  or  dissolved.  Hence  it  is  that 
we  can  readily  account  for  the  extinction  as  well 
as  the  formation  of  these  amicable  unions  ;  and 
hence,  of  the  friendships  which  are  formed,  the 
grand  majority  soon  perish,  and  only  a  few  sur- 
vive and  continue,  until  death  breaks  up  the  happy 
alliance. 

Now  genuine  religion  is  calculated  to  inspire, 
to  cherish,  and  perpetuate  a  friendship  superior  to 
all  these.  It  rests  on  nobler  principles  ;  it  re- 
lates to  higher  objects ;  and  is  rooted  in  better 
feelings.  Both  the  parties  feel  that  they  are  guilty 
sinners— that  they  can  be  saved  by  Christ  alone — 


REV.    JOHN     CLAYTON,    JUN.  47 

that  they  must  be  justified  by  the  plenary  right- 
eousness of  the  Son  of  God — that  they  must  be 
pardoned  in  virtue  of  his  atoning  sacrifice — that 
they  must  derive  all  their  stability  from  living 
upon  his  fulness — that  they  must  have  one  Lord, 
one  faith,  one  baptism,  and  one  glorious  hope  of 
immortality — that  they  must  be  bound  by  the  law 
of  Christ — that  they  must  breathe  his  Spirit — that 
they  must  copy  his  example — that  they  have  the 
same  path  in  which  to  walk,  and  the  same  hea- 
venly home  to  pursue.  Their  hearts  are  cemented 
by  a  participation  in  the  same  regenerating  influ- 
ence :  they  are  joined  by  the  love  of  Christ,  and 
have  the  same  great  objects  to  follow  ;  their  sym- 
pathies, therefore,  are  more  refined,  and  the  tie 
which  binds  them  more  firm.  But  when  these 
principles  and  feelings  associate  themselves  with  a 
similarity  of  general  opinions,  of  constitutional 
affection,  and  an  accordance  of  tastes  and  manners, 
they  form  the  foundation  of  the  best,  the  sweetest, 
and  the  most  advantageous  friendships  which  can 
be  constructed  in  this  lower  world. 

Christianity,  then,  which  conquers  the  pride,  self- 
ishness, and  the  asperity  too,  of  our  fallen  nature, 
and  imbues  with  the  love  of  Christ,  awakens  the 
purest  affection  towards  our  fellow-creatures,  and 
often  links  its  subjects  together  by  an  attachment 
strong  as  death,  and  which  many  waters  cannot 
quench.  It  has  cordially  united  those  who  were 
once  malevolent  enemies  ;  it  has  broken  through 
national  antipathy,  sectarian  prejudice,  political 
hatred,  jealousy  of  interests,  constitutional  pecu- 
liarities ;  and  has  joined  parties  together  in  an  unity 
of  spirit  which  has  been  perpetuated  until  death. 


48  ADDRESS   BY    THE 

It  has  brought  together  the  angry  persecutor  of  the 
Church  of  Christ,  the  injurious  Paul,  and  the  ido- 
latrous Ephesians  ;  formed  one  holy  character,  and 
knit  them  together  in  charities,  which  seas  and 
continents,  which  prison  walls  and  exile,  could  not 
tear  asunder — charities  which  never  fail. 

Another  observation  to  which  I  wish  to  call 
your  attention  is — 

II. —  That  the  most  affectionate  friends  are  suh' 
jcct  in  this  world  to  separations. 

It  was  obviously  the  intention  of  the  great 
Creator,  that  mankind  should  not  be  crowded  to- 
gether on  any  one  given  spot,  but  that  as  they  mul- 
tiplied they  should  replenish  the  earth.  Its  ex- 
tended surface  is  to  be  overspread  with  inhabit- 
ants, the  bounds  of  whose  habitation  he  has  de- 
termined. As  the  God  of  providence,  too,  he  has 
given  to  men  a  variety  of  talents  and  tastes,  by 
which  they  are  adapted  to  and  qualified  for,  very 
different  pursuits.  Moreover,  he  has  established 
certain  laws,  in  obedience  to  which  particular  spots 
can  only  yield  a  certain  amount  of  useful  produce, 
in  order  that  others  may  be  sought  out  and  culti- 
vated, and  rendered  serviceable  to  man.  It  there- 
fore often  happens  that  friends  who  may  have 
formed  the  closest  attachments  are  necessitated  to 
separate  locally,  some  to  reside  in  this,  and  some 
in  a  distant  region  of  the  world. 

That  which  often  arises  out  of  the  general  ap- 
pointment of  God,  frequently  springs  from  the 
peculiar  circumstances  in  which  men  are  placed. 
How  often  have  we  seen  separations  effected  by 
the  formation  of  new  but  remote  connexions  in 
life — by  elevation  or   depression  in  rank  and  sta- 


REV.    JOHN    CLAYTON.  49 

tion  in  society — hy  the  afflictions  which  occur  in 
the  lot  either  of  the  one  or  the  other.  Of  this  latter 
kind  we  have  a  striking  illustration  in  the  history 
of  David  and  Jonathan,  who  found  it  needful 
to  separate,  but  wept  together  and  embraced  each 
other  until  David  exceeded.  Sometimes  a  dif- 
ference of  occupation  will  separate  :  this  man 
consecrating  himself  to  secular,  and  the  other  to 
religious  pursuits.  Sometimes  a  difference  of  de- 
nomination to  which  the  parties  may  attach  them- 
selves, and  with  which  they  may  cast  in  their  lot. 
Sometimes  a  prudential  regard  to  the  peace  and 
interests  of  families  may  render  separations  desir- 
able ;  an  exemplification  of  which  we  have  in  the 
case  of  Abraham  and  Lot,  the  first  of  whom  made 
this  proposition — "  Let  there  be  no  strife,  I  pray 
thee,  between  thee  and  me,  and  between  my  herds- 
men and  thy  herdsmen — for  we  be  brethren.  Is 
not  the  whole  land  before  thee  1  Separate  thyself, 
I  pray  thee,  from  me.  If  thou  v/ilt  take  the  left 
hand,  then  I  will  go  to  the  right — or  if  thou  de- 
part to  the  right  hand,  then  I  will  go  to  the  left.'* 
Sometimes  there  arises  a  mournful  difference  of 
sentiment ;  and  of  this  we  have  an  instance  in  the 
case  of  Paul  and  Barnabas,  as  recorded  in  the  Acts 
of  the  Apostles. 

But  even  where  there  may  be  no  variance  of 
opinion  or  of  feeling,  there  occur  separations  which 
are  voluntary.  Many  of  the  faithful  servants  of 
God  who  show  unto  men  the  way  of  salvation, 
have  separated  from  Christian  congregations,  from 
kindred,  from  friends,  for  purposes  of  the  highest 
possible  utility — for  the  more  wide  and  extensive 
diffusion  of  that  blessed  Gospel  which  is  to  prove 
the  saving  health  of  all  nations. 
5 


50  ADDRESS    BY   THE 

Such  is  the  character  of  the  separation  which 
takes  place  this  evening — it  is  one  which  is  volun- 
tary on  your  parts^  my  brethren  and  sisters,  who 
readily  forsake  fathers  and  mothers,  sisters  and 
brothers,  kindred  and  friends,  that  you  may  go 
and  preach  and  diffuse  the  Gospel  of  the  blessed 
God.  The  separation  is  one  which  is  voluntary 
on  our  part,  also,  who  bid  you  farewell ;  and  I 
will  say,  even  grateful  to  our  feelings,  amidst  the 
mingled  emotions  of  which  we  are  the  subjects  ; 
because  we  cannot  but  rejoice,  that,  loving  not  your 
hves  even  to  the  death,  you  are  willing  to  spend 
and  to  be  spent  in  the  cause  of  that  blessed  Re- 
deemer who  gave  himself  to  sprinkle  and  redeem 
many  nations.  This  separation  is  one  which  has 
for  its  object  and  result — not  the  discoveries  of 
science  or  art — not  the  conquest  of  distant  terri- 
tories— not  the  oppression  of  the  feeble  and  the 
enslaved,  nor  the  extension  of  the  plans  of  worldly 
commerce  or  ambition,  at  pleasure.  No  ;  these 
are  trifles  compared  with  those  in  which  the 
Christian  world  is  engaged — it  is  for  the  redemp- 
tion of  souls  from  the  ruins  of  the  fall — it  is  for 
the  accomplishment  of  His  gracious  purposes,  who 
has  said,  "  And  I,  if  I  be  lifted  up  on  the  cross, 
will  draw  all  men  unto  me."  It  is  to  hasten  on 
that  golden  age  when  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth 
shall  be  those  of  God  and  of  his  Christ.  You 
separate  from  us  for  the  important  purposes  of 
communicating  to  those  who  are  far  off  upon  sea, 
and  the  inhabitants  of  the  isles,  and  who  are  wait- 
ing for  the  manifestation  of  the  law  of  God — that 
blessed  Gospel  which  is  to  place  them  in  the  pos- 
session of  those  privileges  which  it  is  our  happy 
lot  to  enjoy,  and  that  they  may  hereafter  partici- 


REV.    JOHN    CLAYTON.  61 

pate  in  the  glory  that  is  to  be  revealed  at  the  con- 
summation of  all  things. 

III. — Allow  me  to  make  another  remark,  which 
is,  that  there  are  numerous  expressions  of  attach- 
ment which  are  often  given  at  such  parting  sea- 
sons. 

On  the  occasion  referred  to  in  the  chapter  before 
us,  there  were  many  indications  of  tenderness, 
kindness,  and  good-will.  There  were  many  tears; 
and  these,  owing  to  the  infirmity  of  our  present 
state  of  being,  interpret  both  sorrow  and  joy. 
There  were  many  embraces :  the  indications  of 
those  benevolent  wishes  which  glowed  in  the 
heart.  There  were  many  verbal  assurances  of 
reciprocal  regard.  And.  doubtless,  there  were 
other  tokens  and  memorials  of  affection  which 
might  be  seen  after  many  days.  But  I  principally 
wish  to  impress  upon  your  minds  the  iact,  that 
the  grand  indication  of  good-will  one  towards 
another,  and  their  anxious  wishes  for  their  re- 
ciprocal welfare,  was  the  act  of  prayer — of  ardent 
and  repeated  prayer.  I  hold  up  this  feature  of 
Christian  separation  to  more  prominent  view,  as 
characterizing  the  grand  difference  between  the 
separations  which  take  place  among  the  children 
of  this  worlds  and  the  children  of  light.  World- 
lings, when  they  separate,  usually  furnish  each 
other  with  the  ordinary  indications  of  their  good 
wishes  ;  but  not  unfrequently  it  is  at  the  tu- 
multuous and  riotous  festival,  amidst  the  shouts 
of  intemperance  and  of  profaneness.  Christians, 
and  Christian  missionaries,  and  their  friends  and 
relations,  when  they  separate,  give  themselves 
unto  prayer.  And  not  without  reason.  Prayer 
has  a  wonderful  influence  in  composing  the  spirits 


52  ADDRESS    BY   THE 

— in  tranquillizing  the  passions  and  affections — 
and  in  regulating-and  correcting  those  irregularities 
and  eccentricities,  which  mere  nature,  when  pow- 
erfully roused  and  excited,  would  usually  discover. 
Prayer  is  a  recognition  of  the  agency  of  God  in 
all  our  eno;ao;ements  and  movements,  and  is  a 
confession  of  our  dependence  upon  him  in  all  the 
possible  circumstances  of  human  life.  Prayer  is 
the  means  of  obtaining  from  above  all  the  best 
supplies  of  mercy  which  Christians  can  desire  for 
themselves,  or  for  their  friends  ; — protection  amidst 
exposures  to  danger,  in  guidance  in  the  wilder- 
ness, or  along  the  road — wisdom  to  form,  and 
strength  to  pursue  plans  of  usefulness — and  all 
that  success  which  can  give  full  effect  to  the  la- 
bours of  a  strenuous  ministry,  whether  at  home 
or  abroad.  Prayer  is  the  cement  of  the  hoUest 
affections,  and  knits  heart  to  heart  in  strong  and 
lasting  ties.  Prayer  gives  the  instructive  intima- 
tion, that  by  its  engagements,  Christian  brethren 
and  sisterhood  may  hold  communion  with  each 
other  in  spirit,  and  may  converse  freely,  though 
their  bodies  are  separated  by  mountains  and  val- 
leys, by  rocks,  and  rivers,  and  oceans,  and  con- 
tinents, which  roll  across,  or  spread  themselves 
between  them.  Prayer,  in  short,  on  such  partings, 
is  a  copy  of  the  best  examples — of  apostolic  pat- 
terns ; — as  when  we  find  Paul  kneeling  down  and 
praying  with  those  assembled  around  him,  on  this 
important  occasion — of  the  highest  model,  also, 
namely,  that  of  Christ  himself,  who  thus  shows 
us,  by  his  own  devout  procedure,  that  whether 
we  part  in  life  for  a  season,  or  at  Bethany  bid  the 
lasting  farewell,  as  one  or  another  may  be  ascend- 
ing to  the   skies,  this    devout  transaction  is  the 


REV.    JOHN   CLAYTON.  53 

best  prelude  to  that  engagement  in  which  we 
hope  to  be  employed  when  mortaUty  shall  be 
swallowed  up  of  life, — to  the  praises  and  services 
of  the  temple,  where  saints  shall  be  as  pillars  to 
go  out  no  more  for  ever.  ' 

IV. — I   have  one    more    remark   to    make,    to 

which,  however,  1  attach  considerable  importance, 

That  there  are  valuable  considerations  which  may 

serve   to  mitigate  and  remove    the  regret  usually 

felt  upon  such  occasieus. 

1.   The  first  is  that  which  is  derived  from  the 
Omnipresence  of  God^  and  the  great  Master  whom 
we  serve.     This  attribute  of  God,  and  of  God  even 
our  Saviour,  has  a  most  formidable  aspect  towards 
the  wicked,  but  yields  the   most  cheering  and  con- 
solatory influence  to  the  servants  of  God.     They 
can  adopt  the  language  of  David,  the  man  after 
God's  own   heart,  not  only   as  cautionary  against 
the   commission   of  sin,  but  as  cheering  and  re- 
viving those  who  are  about  to  separate  from  each 
other,    whether  for  a  shorter  or  a  longer  period, 
and   as   imploring  preservation    in    all   places   in 
which   their    lot   may  be  cast.     "  O    Lord,  thou 
hast  compassed  my  path  and  my  lying  down,  and 
art  acquainted   with  all  my  ways.     Whither  shall 
I  go  from  thy  Spirit,   or  whither  shall  I  flee  from 
thy  presence  1     If  I  ascend  to  heaven,  or  descend 
into  the  deep  ;  if  I  take  the  wings  of  the  morning, 
and  fly  to  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  sea,  there 
shall  thy  right  hand  hold  me."     I  ask,  is  not  this, 
my  dear  brethren    and  sisters,  sweetly  refreshing 
and  consolatory  to  your  spirits  1     Is  it  not  a  com- 
forting truth   to  relatives  and  friends,  when  they 
are  at  a  distance  from  each  other  ]     The  same  eye 
that  looks  on  me  looks  on  my  companion,  though 
5* 


54  ADDRESS    BY    THE 

thousands  of  miles  distance  us.  The  same  hand 
which  feeds  this  multitude  will  feed  your  little 
band  of  holy  missionaries,  who  are  occujDied  in 
diffusing  abroad  the  glorious  Gospel  of  the  blessed 
God.  The  same  wing  overshadows  us  ;  the 
same  arm  guides  and  sustains  us.  To  the  ever- 
lasting hills,  whence  comes  our  reciprocal  help, 
we  may  look  ;  and  that  good  Shepherd  of  Israel, 
who  never  slumbers  nor  sleeps,  is  our  shade  and 
our  keeper  on  the  right  hand  and  on  the  left. 
And,  hearken,  my  beloved  brethren  and  sisters  ! 
What  promise  is  that  v/hich  sounds  in  your  ears 
at  this  moment?  Is  it  the  voice  of  your  Master, 
which  says,  "  Lo,  I  am  with  you  always,  even 
to  the  end  of  the  world." 

2.  Another  alleviation  to  our  separation  arises 
from  the  consciousness  of  bavins:  «  dear  and 
obvious  call  of  Divine  Providence  to  the  work  to 
which  you  have  dedicated  yourselves.  This  is 
indeed  a  subject  of  considerable  difficulty,  and 
often  disquiets  the  best  of  men  with  considerable 
embarrassment.  Yet  there  are  combinations  of 
events  and  circumstances,  which  appear  to  those 
who  soberly  and  seriously  contemplate  them,  to 
furnish  what  we  mean  by  a  call  in  Providence. 
It  is  as  though  a  voice  said,  "  This  is  the  way, 
walk  ye  in  it  ;"  a  voice  as  distinct,  as  unequivo- 
cal, as  imperative  as  that  which  was  addressed  to 
Abraham,  when  Jehovah  said,  "  Get  thee  out  of 
thy  country,  and  from  thy  kindred,  and  from  thy 
father's  house,  unto  a  land  which  I  will  show 
thee.  And  I  will  make  of  thee  a  great  nation, 
and  I  will  bless  thee,  and  make  thy  name  great, 
and  thou  shalt  be  a  blessing:.  And  I  Vvill  bless 
them  that  bless  thee,  and  curse  him  that  curseth 


REV.     JOHN    CLAITON.  55 

thee,  and  in  thee  shall  all  the  families  of  the 
earth  be  blessed."  No  audible  voice  naay  speak 
to  you  from  heaven  ;  no  angel  may  descend  to 
you  on  a  specific  embassy  ;  no  vision  may  appear  ; 
no  miraculous  agency  may  be  employed  ;  but  yet 
you  may  have  such  an  association  and  tendency 
of  circumstances  as  virtually  lays  a  foundation  for 
a  confident  assurance  that  you  are  doing  the  will 
of  God.  Such  circumstances  are  connected  with 
your  present  position.  You  have  the  call  of 
Christian  ministers  ;  the  invitation  of  Christian 
friends.  You  have  had  a  deep  and  overwhelming 
impression  upon  your  own  spirits  that  it  was  your 
duty  to  go  forth,  and  to  make  known  the  Gospel 
to  the  heathen  world.  You  have,  most  of  you, 
had  that  kind  of  preparatory  training  which  was 
appropriate  to  the  occupations  in  which  you  hope 
in  future  to  be  engaged.  Numerous  circumstances, 
which  I  need  not  detail,  have  transpired  in  re- 
ference to  some,  to  show  that  you  are  walking  in 
the  path  which  God  has  destined  you  to  tread. 
Now  I  think  that  nothing  tends  to  bring  rest  to 
the  mind  on  these  occasions  more  than  the  deep 
persuasion  that  we  are  doing  the  will  of  our 
Master  which  is  in  heaven  ;  that  we  are  in  the 
position  and  circumstances,  and  in  the  very  occu- 
pations and  relations  in  which  he  would  have  us 
to  be.  Does  God  require  me  to  abide  in  my 
calling,  or  does  he  demand  of  me  to  resign  it,  and 
are  the  intimations  of  his  will  unequivocal  and 
conspicuous  ?  w^hat  can  furnish  so  much  repose 
and  confidence,  whether  I  go  or  stay,  as  this  deep 
and  abiding  conviction,  that  I  am  not  acting  with- 
out an  imperative  call  ? 

3.  But  I  must  limit  myself,  although,  when  one 


56  ADDRESS    BY   THE 

speaks  on  these  occasions,  the  fire  begins  to  burn. 
I  will  say,  however,  that  there  is  another  allevia- 
tion which  may  be  deduced  from  the  improved  state 
of  the  sciences  and  arts  of  the  worlds  at  the  present 
time.  This  idea  is  not  unconnected  with  the  pas- 
sage on  which  this  address  is  founded.  It  is  said 
that  the  elders  of  the  Ephesian  church  "  accom- 
panied Paul  to  the  ship."  Of  the  origin  of  the 
art  of  navigation,  we  have  no  intimation  so  an- 
cient and  distinct  as  that  which  relates  to  Noah, 
who,  "  being  warned  of  God,  moved  with  fear, 
prepared  an  ark,  to  the  saving  of  himself  and 
his  house."  But  of  the  improvement  of  navi- 
gation we  have  authentic  historic  details,  by 
various  authors,  and  we  are  furnished  with 
abundant  proofs  of  it  in  this  maritime  country. 
Our  vessels  have  better  accommodations  ;  and 
we  manage  them  with  more  skill.  We  have 
been  permitted,  by  the  God  of  providence,  to 
make  discoveries,  both  in  geography  and  in  nau- 
tical science,  by  which  we  can  move  more  swiftly 
than  ever,  and,  in  a  sense,  more  securely  than 
ever,  over  the  trackless  deep.  Through  the  pre- 
cisions of  calculations,  as  to  distances  and  po- 
sitions, passages  are  now  made  in  a  few  months 
to  places  which,  in  centuries  which  have  passed, 
could  not  have  been  accomplished  in  less  than 
several  years.  Thus,  you  perceive,  that  you  live 
in  an  age  in  which  science  facilitates  your  con- 
veyance to  the  places  where  you  intend  to  plant 
the  standard  of  the  Cross. 

And  when  you  arrive  at  the  places  of  your  des- 
tination, there  are  numerous  facilities  open  to  you. 
I  can  venture  to  say  that  a  phrase,  at  which  we 
are  sometimes  disposed  to  smile,  contains  much  of 


REV.    JOHN    CLAYTON. 


57 


valuable  meaning.     There  is,  blessed  be  God,  in 
the  day  in  which  we  live,  a  grand  "  march  of  in- 
tellect."    It  is    a  happiness  to  know  that  there  is 
an  amelioration   of  those    difficulties  which   once 
had  to   be  encountered.     With  the  exceptions  of 
those  parts  of  the  world  whose  inhabitants  are  in 
a   savage   state,  we    know  that  the  doctrines  of 
sound  political  liberty  and    of  religious  freedom 
are  gaining  ground.     The  rights  of  conscience  are 
better  understood  ;  more  hcense  is  given  to  dis- 
cussion on  all  subjects  ;  commercial  regulations 
are  so  easy  and  swift,  that  the  friends  of  Christ  in 
foreign  lands  may  receive  assistance  and  accom- 
modation without  those  painful  delays  which  for- 
merly  exposed   them   to   hazard,  and  threatened 
them    with   starvation,    if   not  utter    destruction. 
Then  there   are  certain  fixed  institutions  now  in 
existence  in  civilized  countries,  which  supply  the 
means  of  a  quick  interchange  of  correspondence, 
through  which  intelligence  of  reciprocal  welfare  or 
wo  may  be  transmitted  with  punctuality  and  des- 
patch. 

4.  Suffer  me  to  say  that  there  is  another  con- 
sideration with  which  1  wish  also  to  impress  your 
minds ;  and  it  is  the  last  to  which  I  shall  refer  : 
it  is,  the  confident  anticipation  which  may  he  in- 
dulged as  to^the  final  triumphs  of  the  cause  in 
which  you  have  embarked.  This,  also,  alleviates 
the  pain  of  separaticm.  Wherefore  is  it,  my  bre- 
thren and  sisters,  that  you  are  going  into  a  sort  of 
voluntary  exile  from  your  native  land  1  Is  it  not 
that  you  may  circulate  that  blessed  volume  which 
makes  wise  unto  salvation,  through  faith  which  is 
in  Christ  Jesus  1  that  you  may  preach  among  the 
Gentiles  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ  t  that 


58  ADDRESS    BY    THE 

you  may  subvert  the  dominion  of  the  prince  of 
darkness,  the  spirit  that  worketh  in  the  children 
of  disobedience,  and  sways  his  sceptre  over  so 
many  wilUng  hearts  ;  that  you  may  diffuse  that 
Gospel  which  is  God's  saving  health  to  all  na- 
tions, and  hasten  on  the  arrival  of  that  blessed 
period  when  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord  shall  cover 
the  earth  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea  1  And  have 
you  not  the  revealed  purpose,  the  promise,  the 
oath  of  God,  that  unto  Jesus  every  knee  shall  bow, 
and  every  tongue  confess  that  he  is  Lord  of  hea- 
ven and  earth  1  Are  you  not  assured  that  the 
preaching  of  the  Cross  is  the  grand  lever  which  is 
to  move  the  world  ;  and  that,  though  to  them  that 
perish  it  is  foolishness,  yet  to  those  who  believe  it 
is  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation?  Are  you  not 
instructed  to  believe,  that  whatever  changes  tran- 
spire in  this  lower  world,  amidst  all  the  fluctuations 
of  opinion,  amidst  the  vicissitudes  of  events, 
amidst  the  downfall  of  successive  states  and  em- 
pires, he  will  "  overturn,  overturn,  overturn,  until 
HE  shall  come  whose  right  it  is  to  reign,"  until 
"  his  enemies  shall  be  clothed  with  shame,  but  on 
his  head  shall  the  crown  flourish,"  until  all  his 
foes  shall  be  put  beneath  his  feet  ?  As,  therefore, 
you  are  not  going  a  warfare  at  your  own  charges, 
but  with  the  assured  promise,  that  as  your  day  is 
so  shall  your  strength  be,  and  that  the  strength  of 
God  in  Christ  shall  be  made  perfect  in  your  weak- 
ness, so  you  do  not  fight  uncertainly,  as  one  that 
beateth  the  air,  but  with  the  sure  and  certain  pros- 
pect of  ultimate  triumph.  He  who  is  the  Cap- 
tain of  your  salvation  is  going  with  you  ;  he  is 
before  you,  and  leads  you  on  from  conquering  to 
conquer  ;  and  although  it  is  true  that  you  may  be 


REV.    JOHN    CLAYTON.  59 

employed  by  him  at  first  but  as  pioneers,  to  en- 
gage in  preparatory  labours,  yet  you  are  part  of 
his  grand  army.  He  has  girded  his  sword  upon 
his  thigh  ;  he  will  accompany  you  in  your  sacred 
enterprise,  he  will  lead  you  forward  from  one  suc- 
cess to  another,  till  the  day  shall  come  when  those 
delightful  predictions  shall  be  fully  realized,  which 
represent  the  removal  of  the  evils  of  the  fall,  by 
the  substitution  of  all  the  blessings  and  privileges 
of  the  Gospel  of  Christ.  Then  "  instead  of  the 
thorn  shall  come  up  the  fir-tree,  and  instead  of  the 
brier  shall  come  up  the  myrtle-tree  ;  and  it  shall 
be  to  the  Lord  for  a  name,  for  an  everlasting  sign 
which  shall  not  be  cut  ofi*."  '] 

My  dear  brother,  and  my  dear  brethren  and  sis- 
ters— Farewell !  Farewell,  ye  servants  of  the 
Most  High  God  !  who  are  destined  to  show  to  the 
multitudes  in  the  isles  afar  off  from  our  shores, 
the  great  truths  of  everlasting  salvation.  We  ac- 
company you  by  our  most  affectionate  solicitudes  ; 
we  attend  you  by  our  generous  sympathies  ;  and 
we  shall  follow  you  by  our  united,  repeated,  fer- 
vent prayers,  by  which  we  hope,  as  a  band  of  holy 
wrestlers,  to  succeed  in  obtaining  the  blessing, 
and  to  take  the  kingdom  as  by  holy  violence  and 
force.  Remember  that  the  omnipotent  Saviour  is 
your  guard — Divine  providence  is  your  call — 
heavenly  grace  is  your  animation  and  support — 
science  and  art  are  your  encouragement — and  the 
decrees  and  predictions  of  a  God  of  truth  and 
power,  guarantee  the  ultimate  success  of  your 
order.  Across  the  mighty  deep,  may  you  have  pro- 
pitious gales  !  May  the  winds  and  the  waves  soon 
waft  you  safely  to  the  desired  haven,  with  the 
earnest    hope  that  God  will  ensure  to  you  the 


60  ADDRESS   BY   THE 

success  you  desire  ;  and  that  ere  long  Maouna, 
Oyolava,  and  Pola,  those  fine  and  beautiful 
islands  of  the  Pacific,  with  the  surrounding  group, 
may,  through  your  instrumentality,  offer  a  pure 
offering  on  the  altar  of  Him  who  is  destined  to 
receive  the  homaore  of  a  redeemed  and  renovated 
world ! 

May  God  grant  us  the  privilege,  if  it  be  consistent 
with  his  will,  to  salute  each  other  again  !  But  if  this 
be  forbidden  to  us,  0  may  it  be  the  delightful  pri- 
vilege of  all^  when  we  have  closed  the  labours  of 
this  mortal  scene,  to  meet  in  the  presence  of  God 
and  the  Lamb,  and  there  to  swell  the  delightful 
anthem  of  the  ransomed  of  the  Lamb,  "  Worthy 
is  the  Lamb  which  was  slain,  and  hath  redeemed 
us  to  God  by  his  blood  !" 


HYMN. 

They  prayed,  and  sent  th&m  away. — Acts  xiii.  3, 

Ye  messengers  of  Christ, 
His  sovereign  voice  obey  ; 
Arise,  and  follow  where  he  leads, 
And  peace  attend  your  way  ! 

The  Master  whom  you  serve 
Will  needful  strength  bestow  j 
Depending  on  his  promised  aid, 
With  sacred  courage  go. 

Mountains  shall  sink  to  plains, 
And  Hell  in  vain  oppose  ; 
The  cause  is  God's,  and  will  prevail 
In  spite  of  all  his  foes. 

Go,  spread  the  Saviour's  fame, 
And  tell  his  matchless  grace 
To  the  most  guilty  and  depraved 
Of  Adam's  numerous  race. 


REV.    JOHN    CLAYTON.  61 

"We  wish  you,  in  his  name, 
The  most  Divme  success  ; 
Assur'd  that  he  who  sends  you  forth, 
Will  all  your  labours  bless. 


The  Chairman  said,  Mr.  Clayton  has  stated 
that  he  considered  it  an  honour  to  be  associated 
with  our  esteemed  friend,  Mr.  Williams  ;  he  will 
allow  me,  on  behalf  of  the  church  and  congrega- 
tion assembling  in  this  place,  to  say  that  we  also 
claim  this  honour.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  WiHiams,  prior 
to  their  departure  for  the  South  Seas,  were  mem- 
bers of  this  church.  We  are  anxious  to  present 
them  with  some  small  token  of  our  esteem,  and 
have  on  the  present  occasion  deputed  our  beloved 
friend  and  pastor  to  present  that  mark  of  respect 
and  affection. 


6 


ADDRESS 

BY   THE 

REV.  J.  CAMPBELL, 

On  the  Success  of  3Ir.  Williams's  Labours,  and 
his  present  position  as  a  Missionary. 

Mr.  Chairman—You  will  now  permit  me  to 
direct  a  ^q\w  words  to  our  much-valued  friend  who 
has  come  to  bid  us  farewell.  In  doing  this  I  shall 
speak  not  merely  in  my  own  name,  but  as  the 
representative  of  the  church  and  congregation 
statedly  assembling  in  this  venerable  house.  ° 

Mr.  Williams,  in  the  name  of  that  church  and 
of  that  congregation,  and  in  my  own,  I  now  ad- 
dress you.  Would,  my  dear  friend,  that  I  could 
in  a  few  words  embody  and  express  the  views  we 
entertain,  and  the  feelings  we  cherish  respecting 
you  !  We  will  not,  however,  «  accept  any  man's 
person,"  neither  will  we  "give  flattering  titles 
unto  man,  for  we  know  not  to  give  flattering 
titles  ;  m  so  doing,  our  Maker  would  soon  take  us 
away."  We  nevertheless  do  most  sincerely  and 
most  gratefully  "glorify  God  in  you  "—you  are 
exceedingly  dear  unto  us.  We  claim  a  property  in 
your  Christian  and  missionary  character,  a  share 
m  your  usefulness  and  honour  ;  you  are  our  son, 
you  were  born  here.  In  this  house  did  the  light 
of  Heaven  first  dawn  upon  your  benighted  youth- 
ful mind  ;  here  you  were  first  convinced  of  sin, 
and  reconciled  unto  God  ;  here  you  first  professed 
your  faith  in  the  Deity  and  death  of  his  Son  ;  here 
the  Lord  of  the  harvest  called  you  from  the  fellow- 


ADDRESS  BY  THE  REV.  J.  CAMPBELL.     63 

ship  of  the  church,  and  sent  you  to  the  Gentiles 
of  the  Southern  Ocean,  "  to  open   their  eyes,  and 
to  turn  them  from  darkness   to  light ;   and  from 
the  power  of  Satan  unto  God,  that  they  might  re- 
ceive forgiveness  of  sin,  and  an  inheritance  among 
them  which  are  sanctified,  by  faith  that  is  in  him  ;" 
and  here  too  you  found  the  beloved  partner  of  your 
pilgrimage — the  gentle,  sympathetic  sharer  of  all 
the  joys  and  sorrows,  toils   and   triumphs   of  your 
eventful  life.     Beloved  brother !    on    these    and 
on   other  grounds,   we  know  that    this   house  is 
sacred,  and  this  people  very  dear  in   your  estima- 
tion.    Permit  me  to  assure  you   that  the  regard 
is  reciprocal ;  we  respect  you,  nay,   we  greatly 
esteem  you.     It   is,  therefore,   a  source    of   su- 
preme satisfaction  to  have,  and  to  see  you   once 
more  in   our  midst ;  and   this  pleasure  is   much 
enhanced    by    the    circumstance    that    you    are 
this  night  once    more   to   bid  adieu   to  us,  and   to 
your  native   country.     Our  pleasure,  indeed,  we 
are  free  to  confess,  is   mingled  with  sadness  ;  for 
we  are  reluctant  to  part  with  you.    Our  separation, 
however,  is  attended  with  circumstances  which  sup- 
ply to   us   both  the  most  abundant  consolation. 
These  circumstances  are   obvious   on  every  hand. 
How  instructive  and  encouraging  is  the   compa- 
rison of  your  present  with  your  former  departure  ! 
Your  youth  has  passed  away,  but  you  are  still  in 
your  prime,  and  possess  a  large  experience,  de- 
rived from  an  extended  survey  of  men  and  things. 
It  is  true  you  have  lost  many  friends  since  you  last 
left  your  native  shores  ;  what  changes  have  taken 
place  in  this  house  of  prayer  !     All  the  ministers 
and  managers  of  that  day  are  dead  ;  and,  I  be- 
lieve, with  a  soUtary  exception,  all  the  supplies 


64  ADDRESS    BY   THE 

are  gathered  to  their  fathers.  A  vast  proportion 
of  the  entire  church  with  which  you  were  first 
united  here,  are  now  sleeping  in  the  dust ;  and, 
perhaps,  nearly  half  of  those  who  have  this  night 
come  to  meet  you,  and  greet  you,  were  then  un- 
born. But  notwithstanding  all  this,  you  are  not 
desolate,  for  one  friend  you  have  lost  here  and 
elsewhere,  you  have  found  a  hundred.  You  are 
this  night  surrounded  by  a  host,  who,  did  you  re- 
quire it,  would  share  their  last  loaf  with  you. 
What  a  return,  and  what  a  welcome  have  yours  been 
to  your  native  land  !  What  a  contrast  do  they  pre- 
sent to  those  of  the  mere  selfish  though  successful 
adventurer  !  When  he,  after  a  lengthened  resi- 
dence in  foreign  climes,  whither  he  had  gone  in 
quest  of  treasure,  returns,  laden  with  it,  to  his 
native  country,  to  visit  the  graves  of  his  fathers, 
he  finds  himself  a  stranger  on  the  very  spot  where 
he  drew  his  infant  breath,  and  spent  the  days  of 
his  boyhood.  He  feels  that  he  is  desolate  and 
lonely.  The  hearts  that  once  loved  him  in  the  pa- 
rental home,  may  all  have  ceased  to  beat,  and  of 
such  hearts  there  is  no  succession.  Few  know, 
and  none  regard  him.  He  is,  and  he  is  no  more, 
a  poor  rich  man  !  Beloved  brother,  how  difl^erent 
from  all  this  is  your  condition  !  How  improved, 
extended,  and  multiplied,  are  your  friendships ! 
While  the  circle  of  the  worldling  passeth  away, 
and  he  is  left  as  in  a  desert,  does  not  experience 
prove  that  the  family  of  the  faithful  missionary 
never  diminishes,  and  that  the  line  of  his  friend- 
ships is  immortal  1  Your  sojourn  in  England 
proves  that  every  Christian  household  is  a  mis- 
sionary's home,  and  every  believer  a  brother  or  a 
sister,  a  father  or  a  mother.     How  enviable,  how 


REV.    J.    CAMPBELL.  05 

honourable,  your  position  on  this  the  eve  of  your 
departure  to  the  scenes  of  your  former  labours  ! 
That  poshion  serves  the  double  object  of  present- 
ing a  cheering  stimulus  to  yourself,  as  well  as  an 
impressive  example  to  those  your  junior  brethren 
in  the  missionary  field.  Here  you  stand  this  night 
approved  of  God  and  of  man.  How  ample  has 
been  your  reward  for  all  your  self-sacrificing  toils, 
for  your  prolonged,  voluntary  exile  from  home 
and  country  !  Whether  we  look  at  your  abundant 
labours  abroad,  and  their  success,  or  at  your  di- 
versified exertions  at  home,  and  their  results,  we 
see  nothing  but  goodness  and  mercy  following 
you.  The  Lord  Jesus  hath  caused  you  to  triumph 
in  every  place. 

Your  four  years'  residence  in  Enghand  has  not 
only  not  been  lost  to  the  cause  of  missions,  but 
has  been  the  most  productive  and  important  in 
your  whole  life.  Yours  has  been  the  privilege  to 
move  the  hearts  of  mankind  equally  by  the  tongue 
and  the  pen.  You  have  had  the  honour,  unex- 
ampled amongst  English  missionaries,  to  lay  the 
history  of  your  own  and  your  brethren's  labours  at 
the  feet  of  your  country's  Sovereign.  You  have 
not  merely  obtained  access  to  the  nobles  of  Eng- 
land, but  have  made  the  personal  acquaintance  of 
some  of  the  best  and  brightest  names  among  them  ; 
and,  which  is  of  infinitely  more  value  in  your  es- 
teem, have  secured  their  munificent  patronage  to 
3'^our  glorious  enterprise.  You  have  found  your 
way  into  the  cloisters  of  learning,  and  the  abodes 
of  legislation,  and  have  constrained  many  of  the 
first  intellects  of  the  age  to  do  ample  justice  to 
the  missionary  character,  and  ready  homage  to  the 
Riissionary  cause.  You  have  been  permitted  to 
6* 


60  ADDRESS   BY    THE 

stand,  where  never  missionary  stood  before,  in  the 
presence  of  the  council  of  the  first  city  of  the  first 
nation  in  the  world,  and  there  to  plead  the  cause 
of  commerce  and  of  Christianity  in  relation  to  the 
Southern  Seas.  That  great  and  illustrious  body, 
the  Corporation  of  London,  not  only  received  your 
memorial,  and  respectfully  listened  to  your  ad- 
dress, but  promptly  and  cordially  yielded  a  tribute, 
worthy  of  themselves  and  of  the  metropolis  of  the 
empire,  to  your  object,  by  presenting  you  with 
the  sum  of  500/. 

Nor  is  this  all:  descending  from  the  high  places 
of  the  earth  to  the  more  genial  element  of  the 
churches  of  Christ,  how  gratifying  has  been  your 
success  !  Your  name  in  connexion  with  missions 
has  become  as  familiar  as  a  household  word. 
Throughout  the  three  kingdoms  thousands  and 
thousands  have  hung  on  your  lips  with  rapture, 
while  you  have  rehearsed  to  them  the  triumphs  of 
the  glorious  Gospel  of  the  blessed  God.  Have 
you  forgotten,  can  you  ever  forget,  your  unprece- 
dented reception  amongst  the  enlightened,  the 
fervent,  the  generous  people  of  Glasgow?  Have 
you  not  received  from  them  the  pledges  of  perma- 
nent interest  and  constant  aid  in  your  matchless 
undertaking  ?  I  know  them,  and  can  testify  that 
you  will  find  their  friendship  lasting,  as  it  is  ardent. 

While  you  retain  the  remembrance  of  cities  or 
of  men,  can  you  lose  the  recollection  cf  Man- 
chester^ with  its  M'Alls,  its  Hadfields,  its  Herons, 
and  its  Fletchers  ?  No,  never !  They  have 
taken  permanent  possession  of  your  heart :  I 
know  it.  Having  laboured  with  you  in  the 
pulpits  and  on  the  platforms  of  that  town,  and 
mingled  with  you  in  its  hospitable  circles,  I  have 


REV.    J.    CAMPBELL.  67 

witnessed  with  great  delight,  both  publicly  and 
privately,  the  intensity  of  the  affection  with  which 
they  regarded  you,  and  I  am  sure  their  kindness 
is  indelibly  engraven  on  your  memory.  You 
have  proved  their  love  and  their  liberality  ;  the 
world  attests  their  zeal  in  the  cause  of  missions  ; 
they  are  an  example  and  a  reproach  to  the  whole 
empire  !  You  have  earned  and  obtained  their 
confidence,  you  may  rely  upon  their  friendship  ; 
and  to  have  their  friendship  is  to  share  their 
fortunes. 

Need  I  remind  you  of  Bristol^  which,  for  all 
that  is  generous,  and  noble,   and  missionary,  is 
second  only  to  Manchester  ?     As  the  advocate  and 
representative  of  the  isles  of  the  South,  you  are  in 
lull  possession  of  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  the 
ministers  of  that  distinguished  city,  whose  appro- 
bation is  honour.     No   people   in  the  land  have 
fnore  strongly  sympathized  with  you  in  all   your 
past  labours  of  love,  and  in   your  present  projects 
of  benevolent  enterprize.     In  confirmation  of  this 
view,  I  must  here  recite  a  fact,  which  multitudes 
remember,   but   which  none   have   recorded,   and 
which  some  may  consider  deserving  of  oblivion.    I, 
for  one,  however,  think  differently.     The  fact,  in 
nny  view,  was   as   honourable    as   it   was   remark- 
able, and  there   is  no  danger   of  its  becoming  a 
precedent.     As  an  eye  and  ear- witness  I  speak, 
having  stood  in  the   same  pulpit  with  you   in    the 
Bristol    Tabernacle    when    this  event    occurred. 
While,  in  the   course  of  your  sermon,  you  were 
detailing   modestly  and    fervently  the  wonderful 
works  of  Providence  and  of  grace,  in  connexion 
with    your    personal    history  and  agency  in  the 
islands   of  the    South,   so    stupendous   were  the 


68  ADDRESS   BY   THE 

events  detailed,  so  surprising  the  changes  wrought, 
so  evidently  and  gloriously  was  the  arm  of  the 
Lord  displayed  throughout,  that  the  vast  assem- 
bly, filled  with  delight  and  admiration,  became 
unable  to  resist  the  overpowering  excess  of  their 
emotions,  and  in  an  instant  broke  forth  into  a 
simultaneous  burst  of  approbation  !  You  have 
already  received  their  contributions  and  their 
tears — you  carry  with  you  their  affections  and 
their  prayers. 

But,  leaving  the  provinces,  with  Leeds,  Liver- 
pool, and  Birmingham,  whose  ministers  and 
churches  have  loaded  you  with  kindness,  and 
animated  you  with  the  fervour  of  their  love,  what 
shall  we  say  to  London  1  What  are  its  numerous 
congregations  but  so  many  masses  of  attached 
personal  friends  to  you  as  a  man,  and  so  many 
devoted  supporters  of  you  as  a  missionary  ?  Poor 
and  rich,  young  and  old,  churches  and  congrega- 
tions, Sabbath-schools  and  their  teachers,  God  hath 
given  you  all  their  hearts  ! 

Again,  how  enviable  is  your  position  in  relation 
to  that  great  body  of  venerable  and  honoured  men, 
the  Board  of  the  Directors  of  the  London  Missionary 
Society  !  Have  they  not  given  you  such  a  proof  of 
exalted  confidence  as  has  never  fallen  to  the  lot  of 
any  one  of  their  missionaries  before,  in  the  purchase 
and  outfit  of  a  vessel  for  your  service,  and  clothing 
you  with  a  power  limited  only  by  your  own  dis- 
cretion ?  What  can  they  do  more  than  they  have 
done  l  They  appreciate  you,  they  trust  you, 
they  love  you.  You  do  mutual  honour  to  each 
other.  Long  may  you  live  to  promote  their  ob- 
ject, and  enjoy  their  affectionate  esteem  ! 

Beloved  friend  \     You  occupy  a  large  space  in 


REV.    J.    CAMPBELL. 


69 


the  hearts  of  good  men  throughout  the  three  king- 
doms.    You  carry  with  you  the  beUeving  prayers 
and    the    affectionate    sympathies    of   multitudes 
upon  multitudes  over  all  the  land.     What  facilities 
for  usefulness   you    now  enjoy!      Your  personal 
experience  and  widely  extended    influence,  your 
diversified   talents  and    manifold    missionary  ac- 
quirements, your  unbounded  confidence  with  the 
world  and  with  the  Church,  all  constitute  so  many 
elements  in  the  ample  measure  of  your  account- 
ability.     Oh!    how    vast  is    that    accountability! 
You  have  now  the  means  of  accomplishing  great 
things,  and  great  things,  under  God,  are  expected 
of    you.      He    will,  be    assured,    yet   put  much 
honour  upon  you,   by  employing   you   to   diffuse 
throughout  yet  undiscovered  regions  the  Gospel 
of  his  Son. 

Venerated  brother  !  Your  advantages  are  great, 
even  to  a  degree  of  danger.  There  is  no  slight 
peril,  lest  your  seeming  strength  become  your 
real  weakness.  The  best  proof,  therefore,  that 
your  best  friends  can  give  you  of  a  wise,  discreet, 
and  worthy  esteem,  will  be  to  follow  their  passing 
plaudits  with  their  persevering  prayers ;  to  you 
prayerful  friendship  alone  is  estimable  for  mission- 
ary purposes. 

Thanks  be  to  God,  you  appear  hitherto  to  have 
escaped  the  baleful  influence  of  popularity  !  It  is 
to  be  hoped  you  are  carrying  out  with  you  all  the 
seemly  plainness  and  apostolic  simplicity  of  char- 
acter with  which  you  returned,  and  are  in  no 
respect  deprived  of  that  manly  energy  to  which 
instrumentally  your  success  is  so  mainly  owing. 
Thus  qualified,  and  thus  upheld  by  the  prayers  of 
the   churches,  and  filled  with  the   power  of  the 


70  ADDRESS    BY   THE 

Spirit  of  all  grace,  what  may  you  not  yet  accom- 
plish ?  You  early  entered  the  field,  and  are  still 
in  the  prime  of  life  :  all  your  past  achievements 
may  yet  be  thrown  into  the  distance,  and  reduced 
to  insignificance  by  the  harvest  of  useful  labours 
that  shall  follow.  The  Lord  God  of  hosts  pre- 
serve you,  prosper  you,  honour  you,  and  make 
you  a  blessing  to  countless  thousands  ! 


PRESENTATION  OF  BOOKS. 

Beloved  Brother !  It  only  remains  once  more 
and  most  emphatically,  to  assure  you  and  your 
dearest  companion,  of  the  confidence,  affection, 
and  strong  attachment  of  this  church  and  cono-re- 
gation.  It  is  Avith  pleasure  we  hope  and  believe, 
that  the  smiles  of  the  great,  and  the  caresses  of 
an  empire,  have  not  rendered  you  regardless  or  in- 
different to  our  humbler  respect  or  more  limited 
attention.  Of  that  respect  and  that  attention  it  is 
now  my  pleasing  duty  to  present  you  with  a  small 
token,  and  a  permanent  pledge.  Your  benevo- 
lence, and  knowledge  of  men  will,  doubtless,  teach 
you  to  estimate  it,  not  by  its  abstract  or  com- 
mercial value,  but  to  consider  it  as  an  index  of 
the  feelings  of  the  church  and  congregation  statedly 
assembling  in  the  Tabernacle — a  church  consist- 
ing at  the  present  time  of  betwixt  six  and  seven 
hundred  members,  and  a  congregation  amounting 
to  the  usual  relative  proportion  of  hearers  to  mem- 
bers. Such  is  the  community  who  at  this  mo- 
ment address  you  through  me. 

My   esteemed   friend,   Mrs.    Williams,   in   the 


REV.    J.    CAMPBELL.  71 

name  of  that  church  and  of  that  congregation, 
I  have  now  most  respectfully,  and  most  cor- 
dially, and  most  affectionately,  to  beg  your  ac- 
ceptance of  a  copy  of  Scotfs  Commentary  on  the 
sacred  Scriptures,  six  volumes,  bound  in  Russia, 
and  gilt.  When  far  hence,  among  the  Gentiles, 
this  may  serve  to  remind  you  of  old  England,  old 
Tabernacle,  and  early  days  !  When  sad  and  lonely, 
during  the  absence  of  your  beloved  husband,  it 
may  tend  to  beguile  a  heavy  day  to  take  down 
one  of  these  volumes,  and  ponder  its  precious 
promises.  Allow  me  also  to  present  you  with  a 
copy  of  the  "  Comprehensive  Hymn  Book"  con- 
taining one  thousand  hymns,  original  and  selected. 
Among  the  originals  you  will  find  fifty  from  the 
pen  of  your  ancient  pastor,  of  revered  memory, 
the  late  Rev.  Mr.  Wilks.  The  volume  comprises 
an  immense  body  of  sacred  poetry,  from  the  pens 
of  our  best  writers,  and  contains  much  that  is  cal- 
culated to  instruct,  support,  and  console.  It  will, 
at  least,  serve  to  remind  you  of  one  who  loves  you 
and  your  husband  for  the  truth's  sake  ;  for  the 
name  on  the  title-page  is  the  name  of  a  friend ! 

Esteemed  Brother,  let  me  now  request  your 
acceptance  of  a  copy  of  the  London  EncyclojjcBdia, 
in  twenty-two  volumes.  It  was  believed  that  a 
work  of  this  description  might  be  serviceable  to 
you,  and  your  junior  assistants  in  the  islands,  and 
it  will  at  least  suffice  to  put  you  in  remembrance 
of  us.  Think  of  us  sometimes,  when  your  heart, 
like  the  faithful  compass,  turns  to  its  father 
land,  and  we  will  remember  you  !  At  our  mis- 
sionary prayer-meetings  you  shall  have  an  in- 
terest in  the  prayer  which  hath  power  with  God. 
Should  we  meet  again,  in  future  years,  after  you 


72 


HYMN. 


have  done  fresh  and  further  service  to  the  cause 
of  Christ,  we  will  rejoice  to  see  you.  But  should 
we  see  your  face  no  more  on  earth,  there  will  be 
a  meeting  above,  to  be  succeeded  by  no  sepa- 
ration. 

Peace  !  the  peace  of  Jesus  be  with  you  both, 
with  your  dear  family,  and  with  your  youthful 
companions,  now  and  evermore !  Amen,  and 
Amen. 


HYMN. 

Be  thou  faithful  unto  death,  ^c. — Rev.  ii.  10. 

Father  of  Mercies !  condescend 
To  hear  our  fervent  prayer  ; 

While  this  our  brother  we  commend 
To  thy  paternal  care. 

Before  him  set  an  open  door ; 

His  various  efforts  bless  ; 
On  him  thy  Holy  Spirit  pour, 

And  crown  him  with  success. 

Endow  him  with  a  heavenly  mind  ; 

Supply  his  every  need  ; 
Make  him  in  spirit  meek,  resign'd. 

But  bold  in  word  and  deed. 

In  every  tempting,  trying  hour, 

Uphold  him  by  thy  grace  ; 
And  guard  him  by  thy  mighty  power. 

Till  he  shall  end  his  race^ 

Then  follow'd  by  a  numerous  train, 
Gather'd  from  heathen  lands ; 

A  crown  of  life  may  he  obtain 
From  his  Redeemer's  hands ! 


ADDRESS 

BY    THE 

REV.  J.  WILLIAMS. 

His  Objects,  Means ^  Motives, and  Encouragements. 

My  dear  Brethren  in  the  ministry, 

and  dear  Christian  Friends, 

I  MUST  crave  this  evening  your  very  kind  in- 
dulgence. You  must  be  aware  that  the  feelings 
of  which  I  am  at  present  the  subject  are  of  a  very 
peculiar  character  ;  and  therefore  I  shall  not,  I 
fear,  be  enabled  to  address  you  as  I  have  been 
accustomed  to  do  on  previous  occasions. 

Allusion  has  been  made  to  the  circumstances 
under  which  my  first  religious  impressions  were 
received.  It  is  now  about  twenty-four  years  ago, 
since,  as  a  stripling  youth,  a  kind  female  friend 
invited  me  to  come  into  this  place  of  worship.  I 
have  the  door  in  my  view  at  the  present  moment 
at  which  I  entered,  and  I  have  all  the  circum- 
stances of  that  important  era  in  my  history  vividly 
impressed  upon  my  mind  ;  and  I  have  in  my  eye, 
at  this  instant,  the  particular  spot  on  which  I 
took  my  seat.  I  have  also  a  distinct  impression 
of  the  powerful  sermon  that  was  that  evening 
preached,  by  the  excellent  Mr.  East,  now  of  Bir- 
7 


74  ADDRESS    BY    THE 

mingham.  I  believe  he  is  the  only  surviving 
minister  who  was  in  the  habit  of  preaching  in  this 
hallowed  pulpit ;  a  pulpit  sacred  in  the  estimation 
of  every  devoted  servant  of  Jesus  Christ.  It  was 
occupied  by  the  celebrated  Whitefield  ;  and  many 
a  faithful  successor  has  preached  in  it  the  same 
precious  truths  that  were  poured  with  such  elo- 
quence from  his  lips.  Mr.  East  that  evening 
took  for  his  text  one  of  the  most  impressive 
portions  of  inspired  writ,  "What  is  a  man  profited 
if  he  shall  gain  the  whole  world,  and  lose  his  own 
soul  ?  or,  what  shall  a  man  give  in  exchange  for  his 
souH"  God  was  pleased  in  his  own  gracious 
providence,  to  influence  my  mind  at  that  time  so 
powerfully,  that  I  forsook  all  my  worldly  com- 
panions, and  became  a  teacher  in  the  Sabbath- 
school  connected  with  this  place.  Many  a  Sab- 
bath afterwards  did  I  sit  upon  the  form  now  in 
my  sight,  with  my  class,  and  impart  that  know- 
ledge to  them,  which  God  in  his  gracious  good- 
ness had  given  to  me. 

And  just  before  my  departure,  when  I  left  my 
beloved  country  in  the  first  instance,  a  congrega- 
tion, of  course  not  so  dense  as  that  now  convened 
was  brought  together,  and  I  addressed  them  from 
a  little  pulpit  or  desk  that  was  placed  in  the 
centre  of  the  school  ;  and  the  dear  children  hung 
upon  my  lips  with  very,  very  great  delight. 

My  dear  Christian  friends,  little  did  that  female 
friend  who  took  me  by  the  hand,  and  conducted 
me  to  this  place  of  worship  at  that  time,  little  did 
she  imagine  what  would  be  the  result  of  her  kind 
effort.  0  friends,  what  momentous  consequences 
in  the  providence  of  God  are  poised  upon  com- 
paratively insignificant  incidents.     Little  did  she 


REV.    J.    WILLIAMS.  75 

imagine  that  that  would  be  an  evening  sacred  to 
the  memory,  not  only  of  herself,  but  to  thousands 
of  God's  dear  people.  Little  did  she  imagine  that 
that  was  the  beginning  of  all  the  wonderful  events 
thet  have  followed  since  that  important  night. 
But  it  shows  us  what  may  be  done  for  God  by 
comparatively  insignificant  persons,  persons  who 
are  of  no  note  in  the  Christian  church.  It  shows 
us  that  we  ought  to  attempt  to  do  something  for 
God  ;  that  there  is  no  person  so  insignificant  as 
not  to  be  able  to  accomplish  some  great  and  im- 
portant good.  Now,  suppose  every  person  pre- 
sent were  to  make  some  such  resolution  as  this, 
In  the  course  of  the  present  year,  and  under  this 
event,  memorable  by  that  resolution,  I  will  en- 
deavour to  bring  at  least  one  friend  under  the 
sound  of  the  Gospel.  You  may  be  the  means  of 
bringing  forth  a  missionary  for  Jesus  Christ ;  at 
least  you  may  be  the  means  of  winning  a  soul  to 
Christ;  and  this  will  be  ample  compensation  for 
any  effort  you  may  make,  or  any  labour  you  may 
bestow. 

With  these  important  feelings  upon  my  mind,  I 
think,  Christian  friends,  you  will  sympathize  with 
me  in  again  saying  "  Farewell  1 "  to  the  place  of 
my  spiritual  birth.  The  fathers,  "  where  are 
they  1 "  They  are  gone  to  their  rest.  When  I 
took  my  leave  of  my  beloved  country  on  a  former 
occasion,  the  late  excellent  Rowland  Hill  was 
present.  He  is  not  here  now.  The  late  excel- 
lent Matthew  Wilks,  many,  many  years  the  faith- 
ful, the  affectionate,  the  beloved  pastor  of  this 
church  and  people,  was  then  present.  He  is  not 
here.  The  good  and  holy  Dr.  Waugh  was  pre- 
sent ;  Mr.  Burder,  and  a  number  of  others,  who 


76  ADDRESS    BY   THE 

were  the  fathers  and  founders  of  our  beloved  and 
important  institution,  were  here.  They  are  not 
here.  But,  although  they  are  gone,  God  in  his 
continued  goodness  has  baptized  others,  their 
successors,  with  their  spirit;  and,  as  my  dear 
and  beloved  friend  Mr.  Campbell  has  just  stated, 
I  find  myself  among  a  numerous  class  of  friends, 
who  take  as  lively  an  interest  in  the  great  work  of 
missions  as  did  those,  the  fathers  and  founders  of 
the  Society.  There  was  one  expression  addressed 
to  me  by  good  Dr.  Waugh  which  I  have  never 
forgotten,  and  I  think  I  never  shall  forget,  even 
if  I  live  to  threescore  years  and  ten.  Taking  me 
by  the  hand,  he  looked  upon  my  mouth,  and,  after 
having  made  some  affectionate  remarks,  he  en- 
couraged me  by  saying,  **  Go,  dear  young  bro- 
ther, and  if  thy  tongue  cleave  to  the  roof  of  thy 
mouth,  let  it  be  with  telling  poor  sinners  of  the 
love  of  Jesus  Christ ;  and  if  thy  arm  drop  from 
thy  shoulder,  let  it  be  by  knocking  at  men's  hearts 
to  gain  admission  for  him  there." 

I  went,  beloved  brethren,  with  this  determina- 
tion— not  to  know  any  thing  among  men  save 
*' Jesus  Christ,  and  him  crucified."  I  came  home 
with  that  same  determination,  and  now  I  embark 
again  to  carry  the  same  wonderful  story,  that  God 
has  so  loved  our  world  that  he  gave  his  Son  to 
die  for  it. 

Before  I  proceed  to  make  any  observations  upon 
the  object  of  our  expedition,  allow  me  just  to  say, 
that  I  feel  still  that  the  work  of  Christian  missions 
is  the  greatest,  the  noblest,  and  the  sublimest  to 
which  the  energies  of  the  human  mind  can  be  de- 
voted. I  think,  Christian  friends,  that  no  labour 
we  can  bestow,  no  sacrifice  that  we  can  make,  no 


REV.    J.    WILLIAMS.  77 

journeys  that  we  can  undertake,  are  too  great  to 
be  endured  for  the  glorious  purpose  of  illumina- 
ting the  dark  world  with  the  light  of  the  glorious 
Gospel  of  the  blessed  God.  There  is  something 
to  my  mind  transcendently  sublime  in  the  com- 
prehensive character  of  Christian  missions.  The 
field,  as  our  Saviour  said,  is  the  world  ;  the  globe 
in  its  entire  circumference  is  the  missionary's 
parish ;  the  world  is  his  sphere  of  operation  ;  and 
every  individual  in  the  human  family  is  the  object 
of  his  benevolent  solicitude.  "  Go,"  said  the 
Saviour,  "into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the 
Gospel  to  every  creature."  The  grand  design  is, 
to  gather  to  Messiah's  standard  an  army  of  sol- 
diers from  every  tribe,  and  kindred,  and  people  ; 
to  tune  every  human  tongue  to  sing  the  Saviour's 
praise  ;  to  cause  the  war  whoop  of  the  savage — 
that  signal  of  death  and  destruction — to  give 
place  to  the  shout  of  salvation  through  the  blood 
of  the  Lamb  ;  to  tell  the  Hindoo,  the  African,  the 
Greenlander,  and  those  afar  off  in  the  isles  of  the 
sea,  that  there  is  a  fountain  open,  in  which  the 
guilty  may  wash  ;  that  there  is  food  provided,  of 
which  the  hungry  may  partake  ;  that  in  the  house 
of  mercy  there  is  room  enough  and  to  spare,  and 
that  whosoever  will  may  take  of  the  water  of  life 
freely  ;  in  fact,  it  is  to  roll  back  the  thunders  of  the 
curse  from  six  hundred  millions  of  human  beings, 
to  gladden  their  hearts  and  brighten  their  eyes,  by 
opening  before  them  the  magnificent  prospect  of  a 
blissful  eternity  !  These  are  the  sublime  objects 
contemplated  in  the  work  of  Christian  missions. 
We  shall  conclude  our  expressions  of  attachment 
to  this  holy  cause  by  saying,  that  no  exercise,  no 
sacrifice,  no  labour  can  be  ill  bestowed  that  is 
7* 


78  ADDRESS  BY   THE 

bestowed  upon  such  a  cause  as  this — a  cause  for 
which  Jesus  Christ  himself  left  heaven,  and  ex- 
pired in  agony  upon  the  cross  ! 

It  appears  to  me  impossible  for  any  person  of 
intelligence  to  contemplate  for  a  few  minutes  the 
peculiar  features  of  the  British  nation,  to  reflect 
upon  the  unprecedented  rapidity  with  which  our 
country  has  reached  the  position  which  it  occu- 
pies, and  not  come  to  the  conclusion,  that  England 
is  raised  up  by  God  to  be  a  greater  blessing  to  the 
world  than  any  nation  that  ever  preceded  it.  All 
the  characteristics  that  are  essential  to  constitute 
a  nation,  a  missionary  nation,  are  concentrated  in 
our  own  beloved  country.  Is  it  necessary  that  a 
nation,  to  be  a  blessing  to  the  world,  should  pos- 
sess civil  and  religious  liberty'?  Where  is  the 
nation  that  possesses  it  to  such  a  degree  as  the 
British  nation  1  Is  it  necessary  that  a  nation,  to 
be  a  blessing  to  the  world,  should  possess  know- 
ledge? Where  is  there  a  nation  whose  stores  are 
so  vast,  so  varied,  and  boundless  as  those  of  the 
British  nation  ?  Our  fathers  have  been  labouring 
for  us,  and  have  been  laying  up  materials  with 
which  we  are  to  work.  Is  it  necessary  that  a 
nation,  to  be  a  missionary  nation,  should  be  com- 
mercial and  maritime  in  its  character  1  There  is 
no  sea  in  the  known  world  whose  waters  are  not 
ploughed  by  the  gallant  ships  of  England,  bearing 
to  distant  shores  the  products  of  British  industry. 
Is  it  necessary  that,  to  be  a  missionary  nation,  a 
nation  should  be  wealthy  1  May  it  not  emphati- 
cally be  stated,  in  reference  to  the  merchants  of 
our  nation,  "  Thy  merchants  are  princes."  The 
process  of  converting  the  world  to  the  faith  and 
hope  of  the  Gospel  is  an  expensive  process.     A 


REV.    J.    WILLIAMS.  79 

poverty-stricken  nation  can  never  be  a  benefit  and 
blessing  to  the  world. 

Now,  I  think  it  is  impossible  to  reflect  upon 
the  peculiar  features  of  the  British  nation,  and  not 
come  to  the  conclusion  that  God  has  given  us  our 
silver  and  our  gold,  our  liberty  and  our  know- 
ledge, our  political  ascendency  in  the  scale  of 
nations,  our  commerce,  our  colonies,  but  with  a 
design  that  we  should  be  a  benefit  and  a  blessing 
to  a  lost  and  degenerate  world.  Look  at  what 
Spain  was  a  few  years  ago,  and  contrast  her  con- 
dition with  ours.  The  wealth  of  the  colonies,  and 
the  commerce  of  the  world,  were  in  the  hands  of 
the  Spaniards:  what  is  that  nation  now?  We 
believe  that  no  individual  is  blessed  by  God  with 
his  life,  his  talents,  his  influence,  merely  that  he 
may  eat,  and  drink,  and  enjoy  himself,  and  die, 
like  the  brute  whose  spirit  goeth  downward.  We 
believe  that  these  talents  and  qualifications  are 
given  in  order  that  they  may  be  employed  for 
great  and  useful  purposes  ;  and  as  with  individuals 
so  it  is  with  nations.  We  beUeve  that  God  has 
given  to  us  these  qualities  in  order  that  we  may  be 
his  instruments  in  communicating  the  best  of  all 
blessings  to  the  most  degraded,  the  most  destitute 
and  miserable  of  the  human  family. 

Having  stated  these  views  and  feelings  with  re- 
ference to  the  missionary  work  generally,  and  in 
reference  to  our  nation  in  particular  ;  allow  me,  for 
the  purpose  of  fixing  some  observations  on,  and 
communicating  some  information  to  your  minds, 
to  state,  first,  the  objects  we  have  in  view; 
secondly,  the  motives  by  which  we  are  influenced  ; 
thirdly,  the  means  by  which  we  intend  to  accom- 
plish these  objects;  and,  fourthly,  the  encourage- 
ments which  we  have  to  proceed. 


80  ADDRESS    BY    THE 

My  friend,  Mr.  Ellis,  has  given  you  informa- 
tion as  to  our  objects,  so  that  it  will  be  unneces- 
sary for  me  to  go  over  the  same  ground ;  but  I 
will  just  allude  to  one  or  two  circumstances  which 
escaped  his  notice.  I  shall  not  give  you  the  his- 
tory of  the  mission,  but  simply  say  that  that  his- 
tory, as  given  by  my  friend  and  brother,  is  fraught 
with  instruction  of  a  most  important  character  to 
the  Church  of  God.  I  think  that  Scripture  state- 
ments are  confirmed  in  a  most  striking  manner ; 
that  Scripture  predictions  are  most  beautifully 
illustrated ;  and  that  Scripture  promises  have 
been  most  remarkably  fulfilled,  by  facts  in  con- 
nexion with  the  mission  of  which  I  am  now 
speaking. 

But  the  objects  we  have  in  view  are  threefold. 
The  first  is.  To  convey  to  our  various  stations  im- 
portant re -in for  cements.  I  shall  be  accompanied 
in  this  expedition  by  eight  or  ten  beloved  and 
devoted  young  brethren,  one  of  whom  is  designed 
to  re-inforce  the  station  we  now  occupy  at  the 
Marquesan  Islands.  My  esteemed  friend,  Mr. 
Ellis,  did  not  dwell  on  the  Marquesan  Islands  ;  he 
simply  adverted  to  them.  Now,  that  is  the  only 
group  to  which  the  Gospel  has  been  conveyed, 
where  complete  success  has  not  attended  our 
labours.  I  shall  not  this  evening  go  into  any 
thing  like  a  minute  account  of  the  reasons  which 
we  can  assign  for  this  comparative  failure  ;  but  it 
is  not  a  failure,  and  it  will  not  be  a  failure.  The 
time  is  not  far  distant  when  the  cannibal  Mar- 
quesan shall  be  prostrated  at  the  foot  of  the  cross. 
I  hold  in  my  hand  a  very  delightful  letter,  from  a 
gentleman  who  commands  one  of  her  Majesty's 
ships.  He  is  out  in  the  South  Seas  at  the  present 
moment.     He  is  related  to  a  family  of  great  dis- 


REV.    J.    WILLIAMS.  81 

tinction,  and  I  have  been  favoured  with  this  letter 
by  a  distinguished  relative  of  the  writer.  Would 
to  God  that  every  captain  who  visits  these  islands 
was  such  an  individual  as  the  gentlemen  to  whom 
I  refer  !  He  gives  an  account  of  the  state  of  the 
Marquesan  Islands,  and  it  just  confirms  all  that 
we  had  stated  previously  in  reference  to  them. 
That  people,  he  says,  are  a  most  intractable  race, 
and  resist  the  efforts  of  the  missionaries  to  bring 
them  under  instruction.  However,  this  excellent 
captain  took  the  principal  chief  into  his  cabin,  he 
expostulated  with  him,  he  exhorted,  invited,  and 
entreated  him  to  adopt  the  Christian  faith.  The 
influence  that  such  a  captain  would  have  upon 
the  mind  of  such  a  chief  is  very  great,  and  I  have 
not  the  least  doubt  but  that  in  a  very  short  time, 
by  the  blessing  of  God  upon  the  devoted  efforts 
of  our  beloved  brothren,  the  Marquesan  Islands 
will  be  added  to  those  already  under  Christian 
instruction,  in  that  interesting  part  of  the  world. 
The  testimony  he  bears  is  as  follows :  "  The  ad- 
vancement of  Christianity  among  these  people,  I 
was  disappointed  in."  It  is  no  disappointment  to 
us,  because  we  never  made  an  impression  on  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Marquesan  Islands ;  at  least 
very  little.  "There  are  two  English  Missionaries 
residing  here,  active,  zealous,  and  industrious 
men."  And  in  another  part  of  his  letter,  this 
captain  bears  honourable  testimony  to  our  beloved 
brethren.  Since  this  letter  was  written,  and  this 
excellent  captain  visited  the  islands,  we  have  had 
information  stating  the  commencement  of  a  change. 
Very  frequently  upwards  of  100  natives  attend 
Divine  worship,  and  a  great  impression  has  been 
produced  on  the  minds  of  the  Marquesans  by  this 
circumstance.     It  will  be  recollected  that,  about 


82  ADDRESS    BY   THE 

two  years  ago,  six  devoted  and  beloved  brethren 
left  England  for  the  Navigators'  Islands.  These 
brethren  touched  at  the  Marquesan  Islands,  and 
the  Marquesans  inquired  where  they  were  all 
going  to.  "  To  Navigators'  Islands,"  was  the 
reply.  "Why  do  you  not  come  here?"  they 
inquired,  when  they  were  informed,  "  that  they 
would  not  attend  to  the  instruction  of  those  who 
were  there  already,  and  the  Navigators'  Islands 
are  praying  for  instructors  to  come  to  them." 
This  appears  to  have  produced  a  good  impression 
upon  the  minds  of  the  savage  inhabitants  of  this 
group ;  and  it  is  my  intention,  at  present,  to 
make  the  Marquesan  Islands  the  first  group  I 
visit,  in  order  to  deepen  the  impression  produced 
by  the  visit  of  our  brethren  who  touched  there  two 
years  ago. 

I  might  add,  that  our  brethren  stand  in  need  of 
your  sympathy  and  prayers.  When  the  mission- 
aries first  tried  to  introduce  the  Gospel  there,  they 
were  obliged  to  flee  for  their  lives.  I  do  hope, 
that  savage  as  these  people  are,  the  Gospel,  in 
God's  own  time,  will  subdue  their  ferocious  dis- 
position, and  they  will  be  added  as  triumphs  to 
what  the  Gospel  has  achieved. 

After  leaving  the  Marquesan  Islands,  we  shall 
convey  two  brethren  to  re-inforce  the  station  at 
Tahiti.  My  beloved  brother  Ellis  has  given  rather 
a  dark  picture  of  Tahiti.  He  did  not  throw  in 
those  shades  of  light  which  present  circumstances 
demand.  He  told  you  of  the  mischiefs  produced 
by  abandoned  persons  leaving  their  ships  ;  this 
has  been  a  great  evil ;  but  the  natives  are  able 
to  distinguish  character  better  than  they  were, 
and  the  effect  produced  by  the  conduct  of 
such,   is  far    less   injurious    than    ever.     Ardent 


REV.    J.    WILLIAMS.  83 

spirits,  you  were  told,  have  been  introduced,  and 
have  produced  the  most  baneful  influence  upon 
the  minds  of  the  people.  But  my  brother  Ellis 
should  have  added,  that  not  a  single  drop  of 
ardent  spirits  is  used  on  the  islands  at  the  present 
moment.  He  should  also  have  stated,  that  the 
people  have  now  a  representative  form  of  govern- 
ment ;  that  the  little  parliament,  if  I  may  be 
allowed  the  expression,  met  a  short  time  ago,  and 
before  they  proceeded  to  business,  sent  a  message 
to  the  Queen,  to  inquire  on  what  principles  they 
were  to  proceed.  She  sent  back  a  copy  of  the 
New  Testament,  and  said,  "  Let  the  principles  of 
that  book  be  the  foundation  of  your  enactments." 
One  of  the  first  laws  they  passed  was,  that  they 
would  not  trade  with  any  vessel  that  should  intro- 
duce ardent  spirits  among  them.  I  believe  I  shall 
be  justified  in  stating,  that  this  island,  which  was  our 
original  station,  was  never  more  prosperous  than  at 
the  present  moment.  My  valuable  and  venerable 
brother  missionary,  Mr.  Nott,  who  went  out  in  the 
Duff,  is  in  England  at  the  present  moment.  He  left 
the  island  after  me,  and  returned  home,  in  order  to 
get  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  to  print 
the  entire  Bible,  from  the  first  chapter  of  Genesis 
to  the  last  chapter  of  Revelation,  in  the  Tahitian 
language.  God  has  strengthened  him,  and  in  a 
measure  restored  him  to  health,  and  he  has  had 
the  delightful  satisfaction  of  placing  before  the 
Directors  an  entire  copy  of  the  Bible  in  the  native 
language.  I  am  happy  to  add,  that  that  devoted 
brother  has  offered  himself  again,  although  he  has 
been  there  forty-two  years,  and  is  now  nearly 
seventy  years  of  age,  to  track  the  ocean  to  the  far 
distant  islands  of  the  sea. 

Two  of  our  brethren  will    be  stationed  to  re- 


84  ADDRESS   BT   THE 

inforce  the  mission  at  that  important  island.  At 
present  there  are  only  five  missionaries  at  that 
island,  several  of  whom  are  advanced  in  years. 
Our  beloved  brother  Wilson,  who  went  out  in  the 
Duff,  and  was  taken  prisoner,  and  Mr.  Davies, 
have  been  there  for  nearly  forty  years.  Mr.  Henry 
and  Mr.  Nott  are  the  only  two  surviving  brethren 
of  the  original  mission  who  left  England  in  the 
ship  Duff.  It  will  be  readily  believed  that  these 
brethren,  although  they  retain  all  the  piety  of 
their  youth,  and  all  the  ardour  of  their  missionary 
zeal,  have  nevertheless  declined  in  physical  energy, 
in  consequence  of  increasing  age  ;  and  before  God 
in  his  providence  removes  them,  by  death,  from 
the  sphere  of  labour,  it  is  thought  well  that  some 
younger  brethren  should  be  placed  under  their  in- 
struction, that  they  may  derive  advantage  from 
their  experience.  A  mental  appetite  has  been 
created  at  these  islands,  the  people  must  have 
books  to  satisfy  and  to  gratify  it ;  and  the  atten- 
tion of  these  brethren  will  be  directed  to  that  in^ 
portant  branch  of  missionary  labour* 

Then  we  shall  go  down  to  Raiatea.  In  reference 
to  the  remarks  which  fell  from  my  esteemed  friend 
and  brother,  Mr.  Ellis,  as  to  Tahiti  being  the  focus 
or  centre  from  which  the  light  of  civilization  had 
diverged  in  all  directions,  you  will  understand  that 
he  was  speaking  of  the  whole  of  the  group.  There 
are  six  or  eight  islands  in  the  group,  in  the  whole  of 
which  the  Gospel  has  been  successful.  In  my 
own  station,  notwithstanding  the  evils  which  arose 
from  the  introduction  of  ardent  spirits  among  that 
people,  they  have  surmounted  the  calamity,  and 
are  now  again  in  a  prosperous  state.  One  beloved 
brother  will  be  stationed  there  for  the  purpose  of 
assisting  my  esteemed  fellow-labourer,  Mr.  Piatt,. 


REV.    JOHN  WILLIAMS.  85 

in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  that  station.  A 
contribution  has  been  received  from  the  Native 
Missionary  Society  formed  there,  amounting  to 
67/.,  in  aid  of  the  funds  of  our  institution,  from 
which  that  people  have  derived  all  their  knowledge 
and  all  the  benefits  they  are  now  enjoying ;  and 
it  is  with  much  pleasure  I  state,  that  from  our  va- 
rious missionary  stations,  little  short  o^ four  thou- 
sand pounds  have  been  contributed  by  the  native 
converts. 

After  leaving  one  brother  at  Raiatea  and  two  at 
Tahiti,  we  should  proceed  to  Rarotonga,  an  island 
with  which  all  the  friends  of  missions  are  very  fa- 
miliar. I  am  happy  to  have  it  in  my  power  to 
state,  that  Rarotonga  is  at  the  present  moment  in 
a  most  interesting  condition.  Of  course,  in  giving 
you  a  rapid  glance  of  the  various  stations,  I  can 
only  allude  to  some  of  the  leading  particulars 
regarding  them.  Rarotonga  is  the  principal  island 
in  what  we  term  the  Hervey  Group.  There  are 
six  or  seven  islands,  within  200  miles  of  Raro- 
tonga, at  which  we  have  out  stations  supplied  by 
native  missionaries.  When  the  native  missionaries 
have  carried  the  people  as  far  in  instruction  as  they 
are  capable  of  doing,  they  are  visited  by  the  resi- 
dent missionaries,  who,  at  present,  are  Mr.  Bu- 
zacott  and  Mr.  Pitman.  Mr.  Pitman  is  in  very 
feeble  health,  so  that  much  of  the  visiting  work 
devolves  on  Mr.  Buzacott.  It  is  desirable  that 
all  these  stations  should  not  only  be  visited  by  a 
European  missionary,  but  that  he  should  remain 
four  or  six  weeks  at  each ;  and  it  is  therefore 
intended  to  settle  one  brother  at  Rarotonga,  which 
will  enable  the  missionaries  of  that  island  to  take 
charge  of  the  entire  group.  I  have  received  a 
8 


86  ADDRESS    BY    THE 

most  affecting  letter  from  Mr.  Piatt  regarding  the 
good  old  chief  of  Aitutaki,  who  charges  me  with 
a  breach  of  promise.  When  the  brethren  went  to 
the  Navigators'  Islands  they  touched  at  Aitutaki, 
and  the  old  chief  said,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  "  The 
people  of  this  island  were  the  first  to  embrace  the 
Gospel ;  year  after  year  we  have  been  promised  an 
English  missionary,  and  here  they  are  passing  by 
us  and  going  to  distant  lands.  I  am  old  and  grey- 
headed, my  eyes  will  soon  be  closed  in  death,  and 
I  shall  never  see  an  English  teacher."  These  were 
the  phrases  he  used  when  he  pleaded  with  my  bro- 
ther missionary  to  leave  him  a  missionary.  The 
brother  left  at  Rarotonga  will  supply  instruction 
there  as  much  as  possible. 

We  shall  then  proceed  to  Navigators'  Islands. 
Much  has  been  said  in  reference  to  this  group,  and 
therefore  I  will  not  give  you  long  extracts  from 
the  journal  I  have  of  Mr.  Buzacott.  Mr.  Buza- 
cott  accompanied  the  six  brethren  who  went  to  this 
group,  and  laboured  with  ihem  for  twelve  months. 
On  arriving  at  a  large  district — the  islands  are  di- 
vided into  districts,  similar  to  our  parishes,  every 
one  of  which  has  a  name  associated  with  all  that 
is  important  and  valuable  in  the  estimation  of  the 
people — he  altered  the  name.  And  what  was  the 
name  he  gave  it  1  Tali  a  Wiliamu,  "  tarrying  for 
Mr.  W  illiams,"  I  think  you  could  not  find  a  more 
striking  illustration  of  the  interesting  prediction — 
"  And  the  isles  shall  wait  for  His  law,"  than  is  to 
be  found  in  the  South  Seas.  Another  district  he 
has  called  Ola  langi,  meaning,  salvation  from  the 
skies.  The  names  thus  given  to  these  districts  indi- 
cate the  intensity  of  the  desire  of  the  inhabitants  for 
Christian  instructors.     Mr.  Buzacott  states  some 


REV.    JOHN    WILLIAMS.  87 

very  affecting  things  in  reference  to  this  desire.  I 
will  mention  but  one.  "  They  pleaded  hard,  as 
many  others  had  done  before,  for  a  teacher,  and 
nothing  was  the  cause  of  greater  or  more  painful 
emotion,  than  to  witness  a  people  eager  for  instruc- 
tion, and  no  one  to  teach  them.  We  endeavoured 
to  satisfy  them  by  saying  that  books  and  teachers 
would  be  procured  for  them  as  soon  as  possible  ; 
to  this  they  would  reply,  '*  That  life  is  uncertain, 
we  may  die  before  the  teachers  or  books  come, 
and  then  what  will  become  of  us  ?"  This  shows  the 
necessity  of  reinforcing  this  important  mission,  and 
that  is  one  object  which  we  have  in  view  in  return- 
ing to  the  interesting  scene  of  our  former  labours. 
Another  object  is  the  establishment  of  a  college 
for  the  instruction  of  our  native  missionaries.  I 
cannot  enter  minutely  into  that  very  important 
object,  but  I  will  state,  or,  rather,  confirm,  what 
has  been  stated  by  Mr.  Ellis.  I  do  not  know  that 
the  inhabitants  of  any  island,  with  the  exception 
of  those  of  Tahiti,  have  been  converted  to  Chris- 
tianity by  the  instrumentality  of  English  mission- 
aries ;  the  work  has  been  done  by  native  mission- 
aries. Of  course  they  are  conveyed  by  us,  and 
are  under  our  direction  and  superintendence  ;  but 
they  are  the  men  who  do  the  work,  and  therefore 
it  is  of  the  utmost  importance  that  this  agency 
which  God  has  put  into  our  hands  should  be  car- 
ried on  in  the  most  judicious,  the  most  effective, 
and  the  most  extensive  way  in  which  it  is  possible 
to  conduct  it.  We  think  that  the  establishment  of 
a  native  college,  in  which  pious  native  youths  shall 
have  a  good  English  and  theological  education, 
will   be   one  of  the  most  important  steps  towards 


88  ADDRESS    BY    THE 

the  extension  of  Christianity  in  the  isles  of  the 
Pacific.     That  is  our  second  object. 

A  third  object  is  to  endeavour  to  extend  the 
Gospel  to  every  island,  and  every  group  of  im- 
portance which  may  be  found  between  the  Navi- 
gators' and  New  Guinea.  The  first  group  which 
I  propose  visiting  is  what  is  called  New  Hebrides. 
There  are  sixty  islands  in  the  group,  varying  from 
thirty  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  in  circumfer- 
ence, all  of  which  are  inhabited.  To  the  south 
is  New  Caledonia,  an  island  of  between  300 
and  400  miles  in  length.  Then,  coming  back, 
there  is  also  Solomon's  Archipelago.  All  these 
are  large  and  important,  and  teeming  with  inhabit- 
ants. There  is  the  Louisade  Archipelago,  a  group 
of  which  is  very  little  known.  Then  there  is  New 
Britain,  New  Ireland,  and  New  George,  three 
islands,  the  smallest  of  which,  I  believe,  is  500 
miles  in  circumference.  We  then  go  a  little  back 
and  come  to  New  Guinea,  which  is  1200  miles  in 
length,  and  several  hundred  miles  in  breadth,  and 
also  teeming  with  inhabitants.  But  those  impor- 
tant islands,  with  the  multitude  of  their  inhabitants, 
are  a  blank  and  a  blot  in  the  world  of  science  and 
religion,  of  commerce  and  humanity. 

Now  the  object  of  this  expedition  is  to  go  and 
carry  to  them  the  Gospel ;  and  by  this  means  a 
vast  amount  of  good  will  be  conferred,  not  only 
upon  the  inhabitants,  but  also  upon  our  own 
country. 

It  is  not  now  my  intention  to  speak  of  the 
commercial  advantages  which  will  accrue  from  the 
civilization  of  these  multitudes  of  inhabitants.  It 
is  not  my  intention  to  point  out  the  advantages  to 


REV.    JOHN    WILLIAMS.  89 

science,  nor  to  allude  to  the  manner  in  which  the 
property  of  our  country,  or  the  lives  of  ship- 
wrecked mariners,  will  be  preserved  by  the  civil- 
ization of  these  people.  I  would  just  repeat  what 
I  stated  in  the  presence  of  the  Right  Honourable 
the  Lord  Mayor  and  the  Court  of  Common  Coun- 
cil of  this  great  and  mighty  city,  that  not  one  ship 
has  ever  been  taken,  not  one  drop  of  British  blood 
has  ever  been  shed  at  any  island,  after  the  inhabit- 
ants had  been  brought  under  Christian  instruction ; 
and  therefore  a  benefit  is  conferred  upon  the  whole 
civilized  world,  by  communicating  the  blessings  of 
Christianity  to  such  a  people. 

Having  stated  as  briefly  as  possible  the  objects 
we  have  in  view,  I  would  just  allude  to  the  means 
by 'which  we  propose  to  accomplish  these  objects. 

Without  alluding  to  the  measures,  which  our 
brethren  who  are  intended  to  reinforce  our  for- 
mer stations  may  adopt ;  or  to  those  which  may 
be  esteemed  necessary  in  the  establishment  of  the 
college,  the  question  at  once  presents  itself.  How 
is  the  civilization  and  evangelization  of  the  still 
barbarous  tribes  to  be  effected  1 

In  the  first  place,  we  have  resolved  upon  the 
purchase  of  a  ship  ;  because  we  believe  that  we 
should  not,  according  to  human  probability,  ac- 
complish our  object  so  effectually  in  any  other 
way.  I  do  not  know  that  I  can  better  impress 
the  mind  of  every  one  present  with  the  necessity 
of  having  a  vessel  of  our  own,  than  by  reading  a 
short  extract  from  Mr.  Buzacott's  journal.  The 
ship  to  which  he  alludes  was  hired  expressly,  and 
a  large  sum  of  money  was  paid  for  its  services, 
that  it  might  be  devoted  entirely  to  the  object  in 
view.  Mr.  Buzacott  says, "  On  reaching  Tutuila,  we 
8* 


90  ADDRESS    BY    THE 

found  our  native  missionary,  Te  ava,  who,  with 
twenty  or  thirty  of  his  converts,  had  come  to  this 
island,  fifty  or  sixty  miles  from  their  own  station, 
for  the  purpose  of  endeavouring  to  turn  this  peo- 
ple "  from  darkness  to  light.*'  They  gave  us  a 
most  hearty  welcome,  and  it  was  agreed  that  they 
all  should  return  with  us.  The  wind  having 
moderated,  the  native  missionary  and  his  company 
presented  themselves  alongside.  Te  ava  had  come 
up  from  Upolu  to  Tutuila,  the  island  where  M. 
de  Langle,  the  comrade  of  La  Perouse,  the  cele- 
brated French  navigator,  was  murdered.  The 
captain  had  given  leave  for  one  canoe  to  tow 
astern,  but  knew  nothing  of  a  second.  After 
going  on  some  distance  he  became  uneasy  that  we 
had  so  many  natives  on  board,  and  began  to  get 
very  angry  at  the  second  canoe  alongside,  and 
ordered  it  to  be  sent  adrift.  The  natives  begged 
very  hard  to  be  allowed  .to  hang  on  till  they  got  in 
sight  of  Upolu,  but  he,  in  a  rage,  had  the  ship 
hove  to,  and  declared  he  would  go  no  farther  un- 
less one  of  the  canoes  was  sent  away.  We  en- 
deavoured to  explain  to  the  natives  the  reason  of 
the  captain's  rage.  That  is  an  awkward  position 
for  a  missionary  to  be  placed  in,  to  have  to  explain 
to  savages  the  reason  of  the  rage  of  one  of  their 
own  number ;  and  they,  in  return,  pleaded  the 
roughness  of  the  sea,  their  distance  from  the 
island,  and  their  wish,  as  they  came  with  their 
missionary,  to  return  together.  We  remonstrated 
with  the  captain,  but  he  was  inexorable.  We  then 
told  the  natives,  that  if  they  would  go  away  with 
one  of  the  canoes,  when  we  got  to  land  we  would 
give  those  who  consented  some  small  present. 
"  The  canoe  was  sent  adrift,  and  five  of  them 


REV.    JOHN    WILLIAMS.  91 

jumped  overboard.  We  felt  particularly  hurt  at 
the  conduct  of  the  captain,  which  appeared  to  us 
so  cruel ;  and  Mr.  Barfftook  occasion  to  converse 
with  him  on  the  subject,  telling  him,  that  if  he  in- 
tended to  continue  such  conduct  it  might  prove  a 
very  serious  injury  to  us,  as  our  object  was  not  to 
irritate  the  natives,  but,  by  all  consistent  means, 
to  conciliate  them.  He  then,  too  late,  began  to 
see  his  folly,  and  the  next  morning  expressed  his 
deep  regret  at  his  own  conduct."  When  we  take 
this  into  consideration,  we  feel  that  the  only  pro- 
bable means  of  accomplishing  this  object  is  to 
have  a  vessel  under  our  own  command.  We 
never  fear  any  thing  from  having  a  ship  full  of  na- 
tives ;  but  a  captain,  whose  vessel  is  hired,  has 
considerations,  into  the  merits  of  which  we  cannot 
enter.  By  having  a  vessel  of  our  own,  we  can 
take  what  natives  we  please  on  board,  and  have 
the  matter  entirely  under  our  own  control.  I 
think  this  one  circumstance  will  be  sufficient  to 
show  you  the  necessity  of  the  steps  we  have 
taken.  But  I  might  also  allude  to  the  privations 
to  which  the  missionaries  are  sometimes  exposed. 
I  have  seen  my  own  beloved  wife  sit  down  at 
table,  and  burst  into  tears  at  having  nothing  to 
eat,  week  after  week,  and  month  after  month,  but 
some  native  roots,  and  a  very  scanty  supply  even 
of  that,  but  no  European  food  of  any  kind.  She 
never  did  this  under  a  feeling  of  disaffection  to  the 
cause  in  which  we  are  engaged,  or  from  regret  that 
she  had  devoted  herself  to  the  work  of  God — it 
was  the  mere  overpowerings  of  the  feelings  of 
nature.  Now,  though  I  am  not  averse,  nor  I  be- 
lieve are  any  of  my  brethren,  to  suffer  privation, 
or  to  endure  fatigue,  when  we  are  actually  com- 


93 


ADDRESS    BY    THE 


pelled  to  it,  yet  I  think  that  there  can  be  no  neces- 
sity  for  submitting  to  such  things,  when,  by  a  Httle 
precaution,  they  can  be  avoided. 

But  the  circumstance  of  having  a  vessel  where- 
by we  can  hold  annual  intercourse  with  civilized 
countries  would  be  of  incalculable  advantage  to 
the  missionary  families,  and  to  the  cause,  both  at 
home  and  abroad.  If  we  were  to  go  into  the  mat- 
ter of  mere  expense,  we  could  show  that  this 
would  be  the  most  economical  method  which 
could  be  adopted.  However,  when  we  contem- 
plate engaging  in  any  undertaking  for  the  cause 
of  our  God,  a  trifling  matter  of  expense  ought 
never  to  stand  in  the  way. 

I  have  alluded  to  the  vessel ;  another  means 
by  which  this  great  work  is  to  be  effected  is,  the 
conveyance  of  native  missionaries  from  our  pre- 
sent civilized  and  Christian  stations.  Considering 
the  circumstances  of  the  islands  I  propose  to  visit, 
I  do  sincerely  hope  that  in  less  than  twelve  or 
fifteen  months  from  the  time  I  leave  England  we 
shall  have  not  less  than  fifty  native  missionaries 
employed,  few  of  whom  could  be  engaged  but  for 
tlie  important  voyage  of  which  I  am  now  speak- 
ing. I  am  fully  aware  of  the  dangers  to  which 
we  shall  be  exposed.  The  people  at  some  islands 
which  we  purpose  visiting  are  particularly  savage. 
But  we  recollect  how  we  have  been  preserved ;  we 
recollect  the  gracious  declaration,  that  the  arm  of 
God  is  not  shortened  that  it  cannot  save,  neither  is 
his  ear  heavy  that  it  cannot  hear.  Thus  encouraged, 
we  shall  go  forward  ;  and,  should  God  in  his  provi- 
dence so  arrange  it  that  we  fall  in  the  conflict,  there 
is  still  a  sweet  consolation  to  the  mind.  Allow 
me  to  illustrate  the  idea  by  a  circumstance  which  I 


REV.    JOHN   WILLIAMS.  93 

heard  related  in  reference  to  a  certain  celebrated 
play-actor.  I  believe  he  had  retired  from  the 
stage  in  the  midst  of  his  popularity,  and  thereby 
occasioned  great  dissatisfaction  to  those  to  whose 
pleasure  he  had  administered.  A  friend  remon- 
strated with  him;  nay,  I  believe,  a  deputation 
waited  upon  him  to  request  him  to  return  again 
to  the  stage.  Mark  his  striking  reply ! — "  I  feel 
that  there  must  be  a  gap  between  the  stage  and 
death."  Now,  the  missionary  wants  no  gap  be- 
tween his  work  and  his  death ;  and,  therefore, 
should  God  call  us  to  suffer  in  his  cause,  we  trust 
that  we  shall  have  grace  to  bow  with  submission 
to  his  will,  knowing  that  others  will  be  raised  up 
in  his  providence  to  carry  into  effect  that  work 
which  we  have  been  employed  to  commence. 

Having  adverted  to  the  means,  I  will  now  ad- 
vert to  the  motives  by  which  we  trust  we  are  in- 
duced to  undertake  this  great  work. 

I  should  like  to  speak  with  all  Christian  mod- 
esty. Whatever  infirmity  may  cleave  to  us — 
and  there  is  infirmity  cleaving  to  human  purposes 
and  undertakings  of  every  kind — yet  I  do  sin- 
cerely hope  and  trust  that  the  eye  is  single,  that 
the  motive  is  simple,  and  that  the  only  desire  is, 
to  go  and  carry  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation  to 
those  who  are  "  destroyed  for  lack  of  knowledge." 

My  dear  friends,  I  am  fully  aware  of  the  feel- 
ings of  which  my  brethren  and  myself  are  con- 
scious at  the  present  moment.  We  know  how  to 
appreciate  the  endearments  of  civilized  society ; 
we  knovv'  how  to  appreciate  the  entwinings  of  af- 
fectionate relatives  ;  and  we  know  that  we  are 
tearing  away  all  the  sympathies  which  bind  heart 
with  heart.     We  have  gazed  upon  it  all ;  we  have 


94  ADDRESS    BY    THE 

taken  it  all  into  consideration.  I  have  looked  at 
the  violent  storms  to  which  we  may  be  exposed, 
at  the  ferocity  of  the  savages  among  whom  we  are 
g/^ing ;  and,  having  viewed  it  all,  I  have  just 
placed  the  object  in  view  in  the  opposite  scale, 
and  fixing  the  eye  of  the  mind  intensely  upon  the 
greatness,  the  sublimity  of  that,  I  trust  I  can  say, 
in  the  face  of  all  difficulties  and  dangers,  "  None 
of  these  things  move  me,  neither  count  I  my  life 
dear  unto  myself;  so  that  I  may  finish  my  course 
with  joy,  and  the  ministry  which  I  have  received 
of  the  Lord  Jesus,  to  testify  the  Gospel  of  the 
grace  of  God."  We  feel  that  we  have  something 
worth  carrying — we  have  the  Gospel  of  Jesus 
Christ ;  we  have  the  great  truth,  that  Jesus  Christ 
came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners ;  we  have  the 
great  doctrine  of  the  atonement  to  carry  !  Allow 
me  to  state,  in  reference  to  that  great  truth,  that 
I  feel  just  exactly  as  did  a  celebrated  infidel  with 
whom  Dr.  Philip  was  on  one  occasion  arguing. 
The  infidel  said,  "Why,  Dr.  Philip,  you  do  not 
believe  the  doctrines  you  preach  ;  you  professors 
of  Christianity  do  not  believe  what  you  profess." 
"  What  do  you  mean  ? "  said  the  doctor.  "  If  I 
believed,"  replied  the  infidel,  "  that  God  had 
given  his  Son  to  die  for  a  wretched  world,  and 
that,  in  order  to  our  salvation,  it  was  necessary 
that  this  truth  should  be  krxv/n,  I  wcvild  go  round 
the  world  to  tell  it."  Now  we  believe  it,  and 
therefore  we  go  round  the  world  to  tell  it  ;  and 
the  great  story  which  we  have  to  tell  is,  "  God  so 
loved  the  world,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  him 
should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life." 

My  dear  friends,  the  very  first  sermon  I  preached 
in  the  native  language  was  from  this  text, — "  This 


REV.    JOHN    WILLIAMS.  95 

is  a  faithful  saying,  and  worthy  of  all  acceptation, 
that  Christ  Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save  sin- 
ners." The  last  sermon  I  preached  was  from  those 
words, — "  I  determined  not  to  know  any  thing 
among  you,  save  Jesus  Christ  and  him  crucified." 
It  does  appear  to  me,  when  I  meditate  upon 
the  wondrous  scheme  of  human  redemption,  that 
the  great  doctrine  of  the  atonement  is  the  most 
powerful  and  wonderful  of  all  the  doctrines  in  all 
the  creeds  of  the  human  race.  It  appears  to  come 
to  a  conscience  tossed  and  agitated  by  conviction, 
like  the  Saviour  over  the  breakers  to  the  sinking 
apostle,  giving  safety  and  a  calm ;  and  thus  it 
entwines  itself  around  the  tenderest,  the  best,  and 
dearest  feelings  of  the  human  heart.  In  compari- 
son with  the  great  truth  of  salvation  by  the  death 
of  Jesus  Christ,  the  universe  itself  appears  a  bau- 
ble. I  love  the  doctrine  ;  and  I  determine  never 
to  preach  a  sermon  in  any  language,  where  the 
great  doctrine  of  salvation  through  the  blood  of 
Christ  is  not  the  sum  and  substance  of  that  ser- 
mon. We  think  that  this  is  a  truth  worth  carry- 
ing round  the  world :  it  is  the  soul  of  religious 
effort. 

The  encourageinents  we  have  to  proceed  in  the 
work. 

The  encouragements  are  numerous  ;  but  I  shall 
not  trespass  at  great  length  by  alluding  to  them. 
I  wish,  however,  to  show  you  the  effects  produced 
on  the  mind  of  the  heathen  by  preaching  the  great 
doctrine  of  salvation  through  faith  in  the  blood  of 
Jesus  Christ.  I  shall  take  an  illustration  from 
the  beautiful  letter  of  the  excellent  captain  to 
whom  I  have  already  alluded : — 


96  ADDRESS    BY    THE 

"  I  then  visited  the  chief  Kaperlani,  who  re- 
ceived me  with  great  kindness,  and  much  defer- 
ence also,  for  they  have  a  high  opinion  of  the 
English  ;  and  in  the  afternoon  she  consented  to 
come  on  board  the  ship,  where  she  dined  with  me  ; 
but  previously  to  that  part  of  her  visit,  she  held 
a  most  interesting  conversation  with  me,  by  means 
of  a  very  intelligent  interpreter,  a  native,  who  had 
been  educated  in  the  United  States.  She  inquired 
particularly  my  views  and  feelings  on  our  mutual 
religion, — how  it  was  that  I  did  not  adhere  to  the 
same  forms,  and  follow  the  same  abstinences  with 
the  missionaries  ;  and  when  I  showed  her,  in  my 
Mant's  Bible,  the  picture  of  taking  Jesus  down 
from  the  cross,  and  told  her  that  there  had  been 
accomplished  our  ransom  by  him,  who  said, 
through  his  prophets,  "  Look  unto  me,  and  be  ye 
saved,  all  ye  ends  of  the  earth  ;"  that,  while  such 
was  our  belief,  and  while  our  faith  rested  on  that 
great  Redeemer,  she,  and  I,  and  all  the  Christian 
world,  were  pushing  forward  to  the  same  '  mark  of 
the  prize  of  our  high  calling  in  Christ  Jesus,'  and 
that  those  who  come  to  him  he  would  in  nowise 
cast  out.  On  this,  she  and  the  interpreter  both 
burst  into  tears  ;  she  pressed  my  hand  warmly, 
and  merely  remarked,  that  though  she  had  seen 
many  foreign  captains,  I  was  the  first  who  had 
ever  shown  her  a  Bible.  May  the  glory  be  to 
God,  to  whom  it  is  due  !  This  was  a  scene  which, 
I  think,  was  worth  a  life-time  to  have  witnessed, 
Kaperlani  had  been  born  a  savage,  educated  a 
heathen,  converted  to  Christianity,  and  is  now  a 
burning  and  a  shining  light." 

This,  beloved  brethren,  is  what  the  Gospel  can 


REV.    JOHN    WILLIAMS.  97 

do  ;  and  we  trust  that  the  same  mighty  effects 
which  have  been  already  produced  in  many  islands 
will  be  produced  in  many  more. 

Then,  as  to  the  encouragements,  we  have  the 
blessing  of  God  that  has  already  crowned  our  la- 
bours. We  know  that  in  past  days  multitudes 
have  been  converted  by  the  Gospel,  and  I  rejoice 
in  this  consideration. 

Another  encouragement  arises  from  the  interest 
which  has  been  excited  in  our  own  beloved  coun- 
try to  the  missionary  cause  generally,   and  in  re- 
ference to  this  expedition  in  particular.     Allusion 
has  been  made  this  evening  to  many  of  our  nobility 
who   afforded  such  kind  and  liberal  aid.     I  shall 
not  violate  the   rules  of  propriety  by  giving  you 
one  or  two  extracts  from  letters  which  I  have  re- 
ceived.    I  have    permission,  from  several  distin- 
guished  noblemen,   to  use  their  names  and  com- 
munications on  any  occasion  when  the  cause  of 
Christ  can  thereby  be  promoted.     His  Grace  the 
Duke   of  Devonshire  was  the  first  nobleman  who 
expressed  his   good  feeling  to  the  cause  in  which 
we  are   engaged,   and   testified  that  feeling  by  a 
most  liberal  donation  ;  and  every  friend   of  mis- 
sions owes  a  debt  of  gratitude  to  that  enlightened 
and  benevolent  nobleman.     Among  others,  I  may 
mention  the  Duke   of  Northumberland,  and  Her 
Grace  the  Duchess.     From   the  Right   Honour- 
able   Earl  Fitzwilliam  a  most  munificent   dona- 
tion  was   received.     I   addressed  a  letter  to  his 
lordship,  accompanying  one  of  the  Narratives  ;  a 
short  time  after  which  I  received  a  truly  kind  let- 
ter, which  I  think  is    too  good  to   be   buried  in 
oblivion.     His  lordship  says,  "  A  few  days  before 
I  left  Wentworth,  Joseph  Cooper  placed  in  my 
9 


9S 


ADDRESS    BY    THE 


hands  the  volume  which  you  have  had  the  kindness 
to  send  me  through  him."  [This  very  Mr.  Cooper, 
who  is  the  earl's  head  gardiner,  was  a  missionary 
in  the  ship  Duff,  when  she  was  taken.]  "  I  use 
the  word  kindness  not  as  a  mere  formal  expres- 
sion, but  as  the  term  which  will  afford  you  the 
best  clue  to  the  feelings  with  which  I  am  now  ani- 
mated towards  the  person  who  presented  me  with 
so  valuable  a  gift.  Were  I  to  express  how  much 
I  admire  your  book,  you  would  think  me  guilty 
of  flattery  ;  but  I  should  be  equally  guilty  in  con- 
cealing the  truth,  were  I  to  disguise  from  you  the 
intense  interest  with  which  I  read  it.  I  hope  that 
what  you  say  about  being  on  the  eve  of  your  de- 
parture is  not  so  literally  true  as  to  prevent  you 
receiving  this  letter,  one  object  of  which  is  to 
thank  you  ;  but  of  which  another  is,  to  make  some 
further  inquiry,  and  to  obtain  some  further  inform- 
ation relative  to  the  missions.  I  wish  to  know 
how  many  there  are, — what  are  the  sects  by  which 
they  are  respectively  maintained, — whether  they 
have  common  or  separate  funds, — whether  the 
missionaries  are  ordained,  or  laymen,  or  both, — 
what  is  the  amount  of  annual  expenditure, — what 
permanent  provision  there  is  for  their  mainte- 
nance." 

These  are  the  important  questions  put  to  me  by 
this  enlightened  nobleman.  I  answered  the  letter 
as  briefly  as  possible,  but  the  questions  were  so 
important  that  I  could  not  condense  my  reply  into 
a  small  compass.  I  told  his  lordship  the  sects  by 
which  the  missionaries  were  maintained,  and  took 
an  opportunity  of  speaking  of  the  labours  of  the 
Church  Missionary  Society  in  New  Zealand,  and 
of  those  of  the   Wesleyan  Missionary  Society  at 


REV.    JOHN    WILLIAMS.  99 

the  Friendly  Islands.  And  with  respect  to  the  per- 
manent provision  for  the  maintenance  of  the  mis- 
sions, I  informed  his  lordship  that  the  hold  the 
cause  of  missions  had  upon  the  hearts  and  affec- 
tions of  the  enlightened,  pious,  and  benevolent 
portion  of  British  Christians,  was  the  only  perma- 
nent source  the  missionary  cause  had  for  its  sup- 
port. The  result  of  this  communication  was,  a 
request  that  I  would  wait  upon  his  lordship.  I 
did  so,  and  after  about  two  hours'  conversation,  I 
was  requested  to  call  at  his  lordship's  bankers.  On 
arriving  there  I  had  the  delightful  satisfaction  of 
finding  that  this  enlightened  and  benevolent  noble 
man  had  devoted  300/.  to  the  cause  of  Christ ; 
and  the  manner  in  which  it  was  appropriated  was 
particularly  gratifying  to  me.  Towards  the  pur- 
chase and  equipment  of  the  ship,  150/.  ;  for  the 
general  objects  of  the  London  Missionary  Society, 
50/.  ;  for  the  general  objects  of  the  Church  Mis- 
sionary Society,  50/. ;  and  for  the  general  objects 
of  the  Wesleyan  Missionary  Society,  50/.  I  was 
much  delighted  with  the  manner  in  which  the 
money  was  appropriated.  I  do  trust  that  the  time 
is  fast  approaching  when  the  wish  expressed  by 
the  excellent  Earl  of  Chichester  will  be  realized. 
I  am  sure  you  will  sympathize  with  that  truly  ex- 
cellent nobleman  in  the  sentiments  that  are  ex- 
pressed in  this  beautiful  letter.  Every  sentiment 
it  contains  is  worthy  of  the  enlightened  and  pious 
mind  that  expresses  them. 

"  My  dear  Sir, — T  beg  to  return  you  my  most 
grateful  thanks  for  your  valuable  work  upon  Chris- 
tian missions,  to  the  perusal  of  which  I  am  look- 
ing forward  with  deep  interest. 

"  Having  now  for  some  years  had  the  privilege 
of  being  connected,  however  unworthily,  with  se- 


100  ADDRESS    BY    THE 

veral  of  our  missionary  societies,  I  have  learned 
to  feel  with  you  the  permanent  claims  of  such  a 
cause  upon  the  hearts  and  energies  of  a  Christian 
and  highly-favoured  people.  Indeed,  I  often  feel 
astonished  at  the  forbearance  and  abounding  mercy 
of  our  gracious  God  in  continuing  to  us  our  many 
national  blessings,  while  we  do  so  little  in  that 
glorious  work  so  obviously  assigned  to  us.  The 
honourable  post  which  you  have  occupied  in  our 
missionary  operations,  must  make  you  feel  more 
deeply,  because  more  experimentally,  our  national 
delinquency  ;  and  therefore  I  rejoice  to  inform  you 
that,  however  inadequate,  there  is  a  rapidly  in- 
creasing interest  in  the  holy  cause,  amongst  the 
nobility  of  our  land  ;  a  fact  which  is  clearly  proved 
by  the  last  ten  years'  Reports  of  the  Church  of 
England  Missionary  Institutions. 

"  Though  the  aristocracy  of  this  country  are,  I 
believe,  without  exception,  members  of  the  Estab- 
lished Church,  there  are  instances  of  not  a  few  of 
them  liberally  contributing  to  the  missionary  ef- 
forts of  other  Christians  ;  and,  for  my  part,  I  can 
truly  say,  that  notwithstanding  those  predilections 
and  attachments  to  which  I  yet  adhere,  I  feel  con- 
vinced that,  in  contemplating  with  due  affection 
the  great  work  of  preaching  the  Gospel  to  the 
heathen,  we  must  merge  all  minor  differences  in 
one  united  stream  of  loyalty  and  love  to  our 
blessed  Redeemer.  It  is  my  earnest  prayer,  as  I 
am  sure  it  must  be  yours,  that  God  would  shed 
abroad  more  of  this  constraining  and  cementing 
love  upon  the  now  discordant  members  of  his 
church  in  our  dear  country. 

"  However  distant  may  be  the  time  of  this 
happy  consummation,  it  is  comforting  to  believe 
that  every  fresh  missionary  who  leaves  our  shores 


REV.    JOHN    WILLIAMS.  101 

carries  with  him  the  prayers  of  a  daily  increasing 
family  before  the  throne  of  God. 
"  I  am,  my  dear  Sir, 
"  With,  the  most  sincere  respect  and  Christian  love, 

"  Faithfully  yours, 

"  Chichester." 
I  have  others  which  are  equally  interesting,  from 
other  distinguished  individuals.  I  am  sure  that 
all  of  you  who  know  me  will  believe  that  I  do  not 
mention  these  circumstances  merely  to  let  it  be 
known  that  I  have  been  thus  honoured  by  indivi- 
duals of  distinction.  I  should  regard  myself  as 
unworthy  of  your  esteem,  if  I  had  such  an  object 
in  view.  I  mention  them  to  show  that  God  has 
excited  an  interest  in  this  holy  cause,  and  that  we 
may  receive  it  as  an  earnest  of  good  ;  for  if  the 
Lord  had  not  intended  to  bless  us,  "  He  would 
not  have  shown  us  all  these  things,  nor  would,  as 
at  this  time,  have  told  us  such  things  as  these." 
This  interest,  however,  has  not  been  confined  to 
the  great  and  noble  of  our  country.  I  think  that 
the  document  granting  the  500Z.,  drawn  up  by  a 
Committee  of  the  Court  of  Common  Council,  and 
presented  to  the  Lord  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Com- 
mon Council,  is  a  document  of  the  greatest  im- 
portance. There  are  some  delightful  expressions 
in  it.  I  was  gratified  to  hear  the  missionary  cause 
advocated  in  Guildhall,  with  as  much  eloquence 
and  energy  as  I  ever  heard  it  advocated  in  Exeter 
Hall  itself.  Allusion  has  been  made  to  the  sub- 
ject of  my  petition  and  address.  In  them  I  con- 
fined myself  strictly  to  the  national  benefits  and 
commercial  advantages  resulting  from  the  labours 
in  which  we  are  engaged.  Upon  these  grounds 
the  appeal  was  made  to  the  enlightened  Court  of 
9* 


102  ADDRESS    BY    THE 

the  City  of  London,  and  it  was  responded  to  in 
the  way  that  you  have  heard  this  evening  ;  and  I 
have  reason  to  think  that  the  grant  was  almost 
unanimous.  There  were  nearly  300  Common 
Councilmen  present,  and,  I  believe,  only  three 
hands  were  held  up  against  the  resolution,  when 
it  was  proposed  to  vote  500Z.  towards  the  great 
expedition  upon  which  we  are  now  embarking. 
All  these  circumstances  are  so  many  sources  of 
encouragement.* 

We  believe,  Christian  friends,  that  the  interest 
has  not  been  confined  to  our  own  denomination. 
At  Birmingham,  a  gentleman,  a  perfect  stranger 
to  me,  begged  to  be  introduced  to  me.  After  a 
little  conversation,  he  said,  that  he  and  his  family 
had  just  been  reading  "  The  Missionary  Enter- 
prises," and  hearing  that  I  was  about  to  preach  in 
Birmingham,  he  was  desirous  of  being  present. 
In  the  morning  I  preached  to  a  crowded  congre- 
gregation  in  the  chapel  of  Mr.  James.  At  the  con- 
elusion  of  the  sermon,  I  told  the  friends  that  we 
should  be  glad  to  receive  contributions,  although 
we  were  not  in  want  of  much  money.  This  gen- 
tleman said,  that  having  heard  me  make  use  of 
that  expression,  he  had  only  brought  fifty  pounds, 
but  if  two  or  three  hundred  pounds  were  required, 
he  should  feel  pleasure  in  devoting  it  to  such  a 
purpose.  I  thanked  him  for  his  kindness,  and 
told  him  that  we  did  not  require  so  much  at  pre- 
sent. He  brought  me  the  other  fifty  pounds,  and 
said,  that  if  in  a  year  or  two  we  required  assist- 
ance, I  had   only  to  write   home,   and   he  would 

*  A    copy  of  the    document    which     accompanied    the  grant 
is  given  at  the  close  of  this  volume. 


REV.   JOHN   WILLIAMS.  103 

place  that  sum  at  my  disposal,  or  more  if  required. 
Among  the  tradesmen,  also,  who  have  been  en- 
gaged in  fitting  out  the  vessel,  the  same  delight- 
ful  feeling  has   been   displayed.     Our  highly  es- 
teemed friend,   Joseph    Fletcher,   Esq.,   does  not 
wish    his    name  to  be  mentioned  ;  but  there  is  a 
command,   to   "  let  your  light  shine  before  men, 
that  others   seeing  your  good  works,  may  glorify 
your  Father  which  is  in  heaven."     This  command 
must  be  put  in  juxtaposition  with  another,   "  Let 
not   your  right  hand  know  what  your   left   hand 
doeth,"  and  therefore  I  shall  be  pardoned  for  what 
I   am  stating.     After  Mr.  Fletcher  had  put  the 
vessel  in   thorough   order,    and   rendered  her    in 
every  way  sea-worthy,  instead  of  sending  us  in  a 
bill   for  400/.,  he  addressed,  to   the  Directors  of 
the  London   Missionary   Society,  a  Christian  let- 
ter,  stating,   that   he   felt    gratitude  to    God    that 
he  was  able  to    give   such   a  donation  to  such  a 
cause.     Then,  again,  a   pilot,  a  perfect  stranger, 
came  and  solicited   the  privilege   of  gratuitously 
piloting    the  vessel   from    London,    which   would 
have   cost  us,  perhaps,  20Z.   or  25Z.     The  indivi- 
dual  who  supplies  ships   with  filtered   water  has 
filled    our    casks    with   upwards  of  twenty  tons  ; 
and  instead  of  receiving  payment,  which  would, 
perhaps,  have  been  forty  or  fifty  shillings,  on  being 
asked  the  amount,  his  reply  was,  "  I  know  what 
this  ship  is  going  for,  and  I  too  will  have  the  plea- 
sure of  giving  a  cup  of  cold  water." 

All  these  circumstances  are  so  many  stimulants 
to  confidence,  and  they  afford  hope  and  belief  that 
God  will  graciously  smile  upon  an  enterprise  in 
which  so  much  holy,  elevated,  and  benevolent 
feeling  is  displayed.     I  should  not  be  doing  justice 


104 


ADDRESS    BY   THE 


to  other  tradesmen  if  I  did  not  say,  that  I  believe 
that  almost  every  one  of  them  has  given  the  whole 
or  a  large  portion  of  his  profits  to  the  enterprise. 
These  are  all  interesting  circumstances,  inspiring 
us  with  confidence,  in  going  out  on  this  expe- 
dition of  mercy. 

Other  encouragements  present  themselves,  to 
which  allusion  has  been  made.  Can  I  forget  the 
gracious  promise,  "  Lo,  I  am  with  you  always, 
even  to  the  end  of  the  world  !"  We  have  already 
had  a  fulfilment  of  that  promise.  Reference  has 
been  made  to  the  difficulties  to  be  overcome,  but 
I  trust  we  shall  all  rejoice  if  we  are  counted 
worthy  to  suffer  for  the  name  of  Christ. 

Another  source  of  encouragement  is,  the  as- 
surance that  we  have  had  this  night  of  your 
prayers,  your  continued,  your  fervent  prayers  on 
our  behalf.  This  mission  exists  in  answer  to 
prayer.  You  are  aware  that  it  was  about  to  be 
given  up,  but  your  own  beloved  pastor,  the  late 
excellent  Matthew  Wilks,  and  the  late  Rev.  Dr. 
Haweis,  opposed  it.  Good  Mr.  Wilks  said,  "  No, 
don't  let  us  give  up  the  mission,  but  let  us  pray 
for  it."  A  season  for  special  prayer  was  set  apart ; 
and  while  Christians  were  praying  at  home,  God 
was  answering  their  prayers  abroad  ;  while  they 
were  in  the  very  act  of  prayer,  the  demolition  of 
idols,  and  of  idol  temples,  was  going  on  in  the 
islands  of  the  Pacific.  What  a  proof  that  "  the 
fervent  effectual  prayer  of  a  righteous  man  availeth 
much !" 

And  now,  my  dear  friends,  by  way  of  conclu- 
sion, allow  me  to  say,  that  I  receive  the  pledge 
of  your  affection  with  feelings  of  lively  gratitude. 
I  do  trust  that  God  will  graciously  preserve  us. 


REV.    JOHN    WILLIAMS,  105 

I  am  sensible  of  the  solemn  responsibility  which 
rests  upon  us.  All  that  was  said  by  Mr.  Camp- 
bell this  evening  tends  to  overpower  the  mind. 
If  God  has  thus  raised  me  up,  has  thus  qualified 
and  employed  me  in  this  great  work,  I  perceive  the 
weight  of  responsibility  is  thereby  greatly  increased. 
If  the  expedition  should  fail  from  any  want  of 
fidelity,  from  any  want  of  judgment  on  my  part, 
I  see  what  an  injury  would  be  done  to  the  cause 
of  missions  at  large.  And,  therefore,  I  rely  with 
confidence  upon  your  assurance,  that  you  will  not 
forget  to  pray  for  us.  Moses  prevailed  only 
when  his  hands  were  held  up.  It  is  only  as  you 
pray  for  us  that  we  can  expect  to  succeed.  Fulfil 
your  kind  assurance.  I  trust  that  the  confidence 
which  you  have  been  pleased  this  evening  to 
express,  will  never,  never  be  betrayed  by  me. 
Whatever  infirmities  may  attend  me,  I  do  feel 
this,  that  my  integrity  will  I  hold  fast.  I  have 
but  one  object  in  view,  and  that  is  to  carry  the 
knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ  to  those  who  are 
perishing  for  lack  of  that  knowledge.  This  is  my 
sole,  my  simple  object.  I  can  with  confidence 
unite  with  you,  in  supplicating  that  God's  blessing 
may  rest  upon  us.  I  cannot  do  better  than  con- 
clude with  the  prayer  of  one  of  the  natives,  on 
the  day  that  we  embarked  from  that  island,  "  Oh 
Lord,  tell  the  winds  about  them,  that  they  may 
not  blow  fiercely  upon  them  ;  command  the  ocean 
concerning  them,  that  it  may  not  swallow  them 
up  ;  conduct  them  safely  to  a  far  distant  country, 
and  give  them  a  happy  meeting  with  long  lost 
relatives,  and  bring  them  back  again  to  us.  But 
if  we  should  never  meet  again  around  the  throne 
of  grace  below,  may  we  all  meet  around  the 
throne  of  glory  above.     Amen,  and  Amen." 


HYMN. 

I  will  publish  the  name  of  the  Lord. — Deut.  xxxiii.  3. 

Farewell  to  my  country  and  home, 

Friends,  parents,  and  relatives  dear; 
Across  where  the  huge  billows  foam 

I  go, — yet  a  stranger  to  fear, 
To  publish  the  Lamb  that  was  slain. 

Who  shed  for  lost  sinners  his  blood ; 
I  brave  all  the  storms  of  the  main. 

And  smile  at  the  loud  roaring  flood. 

Shall  I  count  viy  life  dear  to  do  this, 

Reap  infinite  gain  by  its  loss  ? 
No  I — be  it  my  glory  and  bliss 

To  count  all  tilings  else  but  as  dross. — 
Oh,  weep  not !  but  dry  up  your  tears, 

Let  gladness  spring  up  in  your  heart ; 
And  rather  than  brood  o'er  your  fears, 

Rejoice  to  behold  me  depart. 

Ere  long  shall  the  day-star  arise. 

And  righteousness  cover  the  earth  ; 
For  Jesus  will  open  the  eyes 

Of  those  who  were  blind  from  their  birth : 
The  East  her  hosannas  shall  raise, 

The  South  will  re-echo  the  song  ; 
And  the  West  and  the  North,  the  loud  praise 

Of  Jesus's  love  shall  prolong. 

Thus,  though  in  a  life-wasting  clime. 

My  days  I  am  destined  to  spend  ; 
And  pass  the  short  course  of  my  time, 

Far  distant  from  country  and  friend  : 
For  the  sake  of  the  Lord  1  will  go. 

And  be  spent  in  declaring  his  love  ; 
Who  long  can  preserve  me  below. 

Or  take  me  to  triumph  above. 


COMMENDATORY  PRAYER, 


BY    THE 


REV.  GEORGE    CLAYTON. 

0  Thou,  whose  name  alone  is  Jehovah,  we 
adore  thee  as  the  Creator,  the  Redeemer,  the 
Ruler  of  our  world  ;  the  only  true  God  ;  the 
source  of  all  blessedness,  the  centre  of  all  happi- 
ness. The  gods  of  the  heathen  are  vanities,  but 
the  Lord  made  the  heavens.  Help  us  to  adore 
thee  as  the  King  eternal,  immortal,  invisible,  the 
only  wise  God  ;  and  to  rejoice  in  the  declaration, 
that  all  nations  whom  thou  hast  made,  shall  come 
to  worship  before  thee,  0  Lord,  and  to  glorify  thy 
holy  name.  Pour  out  thy  Spirit  upon  this  con- 
gregation, at  the  present  moment,  as  a  Spirit  of 
grace  and  supplication.  Teach  us  to  pray  in 
faith,  with  earnestness,  with  perseverance,  and  in 
a  spirit  determined  to  take  no  denial ;  to  pray  in 
the  spirit  of  the  ancient  patriarch,  who  said,  "  I 
will  not  let  thee  go  except  thou  bless  me."  Bring 
the  many  hearts  in  this  assembly  to  be  as  the  heart 
of  one  man.  May  we  feel  that  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  suffereth  violence,  and  that  the  violent 
take  it  by  force.  We  would  give  thee  no  rest,  O 
thou  King  of  Zion,  till  thou  makest  Jerusalem 
the  praise  of  the  whole  earth. 

We  tender  to  thee,   0   Lord,  our  united  thanks 


108  COMMENDATORY    PRAYER    BY    THE 

for  those  Gospel  privileges  which  we  have  long 
had  the  happiness  to  enjoy.  We  grieve  to  think 
that  we  have  valued  them  so  disproportionately, 
and  improved  them  to  comparatively  so  little 
advantage.  Truly  we  are  unprofitable  servants, 
and  we  take  shame  to  ourselves,  that  highly- 
favoured  as  we  have  been,  we  have  fallen  far 
below  our  manifold  privileges  and  blessings.  0 
God,  forgive  us !  wash  us  all  in  that  precious 
blood  which  cleanseth  from  all  sin  ;  and  truly 
repenting  of  our  past  indifference  and  neglect, 
may  we  be  enabled  more  anxiously  to  strive  for 
the  universal  extension  of  Gospel  blessings  to 
those  who  are  ready  to  perish.  Pity,  0  God, 
the  multitudes  of  the  heathen,  who  are  still  sitting 
in  darkness,  and  in  the  shadow  of  death.  Say  to 
the  benighted  world,  "  Arise !  shine !  for  thy 
light  is  come,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  is  risen 
upon  thee." 

We  most  earnestly  beg  thee  to  bless  all  mis- 
sionary societies,  formed  on  the  principles  of  thy 
Holy  Word,  and  designed  for  the  simple  object  of 
the  conversion  of  the  Heathen.  We  would  be  in 
sympathy  with  our  brethren  of  the  Church  Mis- 
sionary Society,  our  brethren  of  the  Baptist  Mis- 
sionary Society,  our  brethren  of  the  Moravian 
Missionary  Society,  and  our  brethren  of  the  W^es- 
leyan  Missionary  Society.  We  pray  that  all  the 
agencies  which  are  now  in  operation  may  be  in- 
creased in  a  ten-fold  degree,  and  accompanied  with 
that  blessing  of  God  which  alone  can  give  the  in- 
crease. Send  by  whom  thou  wilt  send,  only  let 
the  light  of  the  knowledge  of  thy  glory  cover  the 
earth,  as  the  waters  cover  the  face  of  the  mighty 
deep. 


REV.    GEORGE    CLAYTON.  109 

More  especially  we  commend  to  thee  that  Insti- 
tution which  has  so  large  a  share  in  our  affections, 
whose  interests  have  brought  us  together  this 
night,  and  to  which  we  wish  all  prosperity  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord.  We  pray  for  those  who  have 
the  direction  of  its  affairs,  that  wisdom  may  be 
given  to  those  from  above ;  that  they  may  ever 
adopt  such  measures  as  are  best,  and  pursue 
those  measures  in  the  true  spirit  of  Christian  love  ; 
that  they  may  purchase  to  themselves  a  good  de- 
gree and  great  boldness  in  the  faith  that  is  in 
Christ  Jesus.  We  beseech  thee  to  bless  the  Mis- 
sionaries employed  by  this  Society  in  the  various 
stations  which  they  may  occupy  ;  that  they  may 
be  strengthened,  encouraged,  and  blessed ;  that 
they  may  have  reason  to  say,  "  Now  thanks  be 
unto  God,  which  always  causeth  us  to  triumph  in 
Christ,  and  maketh  manifest  the  savour  of  his 
knowledge  by  us  in  every  place!"  We  beseech 
thee,  0  Lord,  to  take  under  especial  protection 
our  dear  younger  brethren,  who  are  shortly  to 
quit  their  native  shores,  to  embark  on  the  mighty 
deep,  to  set  sail  for  the  place  of  their  destination, 
and  to  engage  in  their  important  labours.  We 
now,  solemnly  and  affectionately,  and  with  hearts 
full  of  Christian  sympathy,  commend  them  to  the 
grace  of  God  the  Father,  God  the  Son,  and  God 
the  Holy  Ghost ;  entreating  thee,  as  the  One  God, 
our  Father,  to  throw  over  them  the  shield  of  thy 
protection — to  preserve  them  in  health — to  watch 
over  their  precious  lives — to  defend  them  from  all 
the  dangers  of  the  deep,  and  the  mischiefs  of  the 
land.  We  beseech  thee  that  they  may  have  a  safe 
and  cordial  reception  amongst  the  inhabitants  of 
the  South  Seas,  and  that  no  manner  of  encourage- 
10 


110  COMMENDATORY    PRAYER    BY    THE 

ment  may  be  wanting  to  them  ;  that  their  success 
in  preaching  thy  glorious  Gospel  may  be  fully  com- 
mensurate with  the  largest  wishes  of  their  en- 
lightened and  pious  minds.  Take  both  our  male 
and  female  friends  into  thine  Almighty  arms. 
May  they  both  be  environed  by  the  ample  defence, 
and  may  God,  even  their  own  God,  give  them  his 
blessing;  pour  upon  them  every  spiritual  gift, 
every  heavenly  grace,  and  especially  large  com- 
munications of  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  enlightener, 
the  sanctifier,  the  comforter.  May  thy  Spirit  dwell 
in  them,  and  abide  in  them  for  ever.  0  that  they 
may  be  the  honoured  instruments  in  turning  many 
to  righteousness  ;  and  when  their  work  on  earth 
is  finished,  may  they  receive  a  crown  which  shall 
never,  never  fade.  Yea,  let  each  one  of  them 
shine  as  with  the  brightness  of  the  firmament,  and 
as  the  stars,  for  ever  and  ever.  We  pray  that 
when  absent  from  our  sight,  they  may  always  be 
borne  upon  our  hearts  ;  may  we  take  them  with 
us  into  our  closets,  to  our  family  altars,  and  to  the 
public  services  of  the  sanctuary  ;  and  may  they 
ever  feel  that  they  are  remembered,  where  remem- 
brance is  most  effectual,  by  their  Christian  bre- 
thren in  this  Christian  land. 

.  And  now.  Lord,  we  pray  for  our  beloved  and 
honoured  brother,  to  whom  is  confided  the  direc- 
tion of  this  important  mission.  We  have  heard 
from  his  own  lips  the  object  which  he  proposes, 
the  means  by  which  that  object  is  to  be  promoted, 
and  the  encouragements  under  the  influence  of 
which  he  and  his  companions  are  going  back. 
Bless  him  in  his  own  person.  Bless  his  dear  wife 
and  true  yokefellow,  his  assistant  and  fellow- 
labourer  in  the  kingdom  and  patience  of  Christ. 


REV.    GEORGE    CLAYTON.  Ill 

Long  spare  them  to  the  Church  ;  long  spare  them 
to  each  other  ;  long  spare  them  to  their  interest- 
ing family  ;  and  long  spare  them  to  the  heathen 
they  are  about  to  visit.  We  beseech  thee,  O  God, 
to  shield  them  by  thy  protection,  to  sustain  them 
by  the  consolations  of  thy  Gospel,  to  preserve  their 
minds  in  delightful  tranquillity,  and  in  uninter- 
rupted calmness.  Whatever  storms  assail  them 
from  without,  may  there  always  be  serenity  within 
— that  peace  which  passeth  all  understanding. 
We  beseech  thee  to  give  to  thy  dear  servant,  our 
brother,  a  continual  supply  of  the  Spirit  of  Christ, 
that  he  may  be  enabled  to  pursue  his  course,  as 
he  has  commenced  and  continued  it,  humbly, 
wisely,  uprightly,  zealously,  and  faithfully  ;  and 
may  many,  many  years  of  abounding  usefulness 
be  added  to  the  days  of  his  life.  If  he,  or  any 
dear  to  him,  should  be  called  into  the  eternal  state 
by  some  unforeseen  dispensation  of  Providence — 
if  we  are  now  beholding  him  for  the  last  time  upon 
earth — if  we  shall  see  his  face  no  more,  0  be  with 
him  in  the  last  conflict,  and  comfort  him  on  every 
side !  Refresh  him  with  the  foretaste  of  glory. 
Peaceful  be  his  dismission — instant  his  glorifica- 
tion !  Absent  from  the  body,  may  he  be  present 
with  the  Lord,  and  be  welcomed  on  the  shores  of 
a  blessed  eternity  by  not  a  few  who  will  have  to 
attribute  their  eternal  felicity  to  his  pious  solici- 
tude and  missionary  zeal.  We  most  earnestly  beg 
of  thee,  0  Lord,  to  give  him  strength  according  to 
his  day  ;  make  him  wise  in  counsel,  vifjorous  in 
action,  happy  in  his  work  ;  and  crown  the  labours 
of  time  with  the  distinctions  and  joys  of  eternity. 
O  Lord,  we  thank  thee  for  what  thou  hast  effected 
by  him  during  his  temporary  sojourn  among  us. 


112  COMMENDATORY    PRAYER  BY     THE 

He  goes  with  our  best  wishes,  and  with  the  most 
fervent  implorings  of  our  tender  sympathy  ;  and 
we  ask  thee,  0  God,  to  hft  up  the  hght  of  thy 
countenance  upon  him,  and  to  give  him  peace. 
O,  let  the  cry  of  the  many  thousands  of  our  Israel 
prevail  in  his  behalf!  We  should  commend  to 
thee,  0  Lord,  in  an  especial  manner,  the  mission- 
ary ship — the  fruit  of  Christian  benevolence  and 
kindness.  Take  the  vessel,  we  beseech  thee,  un- 
der thine  especial  management.  Be  thou  her  pilot 
likewise.  Give  thy  winds  and  thy  waves  charge 
concerning  her  ;  let  no  untoward  occurrence — let 
no  imbittering  circumstance  arise,  by  which  the 
glorious  prospects  now  unfolded  to  our  view  may 
be  overcast  and  beclouded ;  but,  as  thou  hast 
begun  to  show  thy  servants  thy  power  and  might 
help  them  forward,  0  Lord  ;  and  continue  to  be 
gracious  to  us  in  this  work,  and  accomplish  even 
infinitely  more  than  we  can  either  ask  or  think. 

We  pray  for  the  British  churches.  We  ask  that 
the  spirit  of  missionary  zeal  and  love  may  prevail 
and  abound  in  the  midst  of  them.  We  pray  for 
the  pastors  of  these  churches,  and  those  of  thy 
ministering  servants  who  are  now  present.  May 
God  bless  them,  and  make  them  a  blessing  ;  enable 
them  to  be  faithful  unto  death,  that  they  may  re- 
ceive a  crown  of  life.  We  pray  for  the  rising 
generation  in  our  respective  congregations.  Feeling 
that  we  cannot  continue  by  reason  of  death — 
conscious  that  graves  may  already  be  prepared  for 
us — we  would  ask  for  the  outpouring  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  upon  the  young  now  present,  that  they  may 
rise  up  as  a  body  of  witnesses  for  God  ;  and  that 
instead  of  the  fathers  may  the  children,  whom 
thou  wilt  make  princes  in  all  the  earth  ;  who  shall 


REV.    GEORGE    CLAYTON.  113 

bear  the  sacred  ark  of  the  covenant  till  all  nations 
shall  see  the  light  of  thy  salvation,  and  glorify  thy 
holy  name. 

We  beseech  thee,  0  Lord,  to  regard  our  beloved 
country.  We  commend  to  thee  her  Britannic  Ma- 
jesty, and  earnestly  pray  that  wherever  the  influ- 
€nce  of  her  sceptre  is  felt,  that  influence  may  be 
rendered  subservient  to  the  promotion  of  the  glo- 
rious Gospel  of  the  ever  blessed  God.  Favour 
her  with  long  life  and  a  prosperous  reign  ;  may 
she  be  taught,  in  the  knowledge  and  fear  of  God, 
to  rule  over  an  enlightened,  a  free,  a  prosperous 
people  ;  and  let  all  the  resources  of  the  empire, 
and  the  prosperity  arising  from  our  commercial 
advantages,  be  consecrated  to  the  Lord  of  the 
whole  earth. 

If  there  be  any  in  this  assembly  who  meet  upon 
this  never-to-be-forgotten  occasion,  who  are  stran- 
gers to  the  light,  life,  and  power  of  our  holy  reli- 
gion, we  earnestly  pray  that  this  may  be  the  set 
time  to  favour  them.  Call  them  out  of  the  con- 
gregation of  the  dead,  and  place  them  among  the 
living  in  Jerusalem.  If  there  be  an  unconverted 
sinner  under  this  roof,  let  angels  have  to  rejoice  in 
the  glad  tidings  of  the  conversion  of  that  sinner. 
O  forbid  that  while  we  are  sending  the  Gospel  to 
the  heathen,  we  should  neglect  the  Gospel  our- 
selves. 0  that  we  may  not  trifle  away  the  day  of 
salvation,  nor  fail  to  seek  the  Lord  while  he  may 
be  found,  to  call  upon  him  while  he  is  near.  Never 
let  it  be  the  regret  of  any  one  present,  "  I  shall 
see  him,  but  not  now  ;  I  shall  behold  him,  but 
not  nigh  !"  "  The  harvest  is  past,  the  summer  is 
€nded,  and  we  are  not  saved."  0  save  us.  Lord, 
we  pray  thee,  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  with  an 
10* 


114  COMMENDATORY    PRAYER,    ETC. 

everlasting  salvation.  Remember  us  with  the 
favour  which  thou  bearest  towards  thy  people, 
that  we  may  see  the  good  of  thy  chosBn,  that  we 
may  rejoice  in  the  gladness  of  thy  nation,  that  we 
also  may  glory  with  thine  inheritance. 

Forgive  all  the  sins  thou  hast  seen  in  us  since 
we  met  upon  this  occasion  ;  cast  the  mantle  of 
Divine  forgiveness  over  all  our  blemishes,  spots, 
and  defects,  and  may  we  obtain  acceptance  through 
the  merits  of  thine  own  eternal  Son. 

Once  more  we  commend  to  thee  our  honoured 
brethren  and  companions  in  the  work  of  the  Lord. 
We  commend  them  to  God  and  to  the  word  of  his 
grace,  which  is  able  to  build  them  up,  and  to  give 
them  an  inheritance  among  them  which  are  sancti- 
fied. And  now  unto  Him  that  is  able  to  keep  us 
from  falling,  and  to  present  us  faultless  before  the 
presence  of  his  glory  with  exceeding  joy  ;  to  the 
only  wise  God  our  Saviour,  be  glory  and  majesty, 
dominion  and  power,  both  now  and  ever. 

Blessed  be  the  Lord  God,  the  God  of  Israel,  who 
only  doeth  wondrous  things.  And  blessed  be  his 
glorious  name  for  ever  :  and  let  the  whole  earth 
be  filled  with  his  glory !     Amen,  and  Amen. 


HYMN. 

Finally,  brethren,  fareivelL— 2  Cor.  xiii.  11. 

Obedient  to  ihy  great  command, 

Constrain'd  thy  love  to  tell, 
Great  Lord,  thy  servants  leave  their  land, 

And  bid  their  friends  Fareiodl ! 

Yes,  friends,  however  dear  and  kind, 

Whose  very  look  dispel 
The  gloomy  sorrows  of  the  mind. 

We  now  must  say,  Farewell ! 

Ye  fellow-sojourners,  with  whom 

In  heaven  we  hope  to  dwell ; 
To  meet  again  beyond  the  tomb. 

But  now  we  say,  Farewell! 

Though  called  awhile  the  cross  to  bear, 
Though  sighs  the  bosom  swell, 

Jesus  will  soon  remove  the  tear, 
In  heaven  there's  no  Farewell ! 

We  soon,  for  nobler  joys  divine. 

Shall  quit  earth's  lonely  cell, 
With  all  the  chosen  tribes  to  join  ; 

And  no  more  say.  Farewell ! 

With  strength  proportion'd  to  our  day. 

May  we  each  fear  repel ; 
'Tis  Jesus  calls,  we  must  obey. 

Farewell,  dear  friends,  Farewell ! 


NARRATIVE  OF  THE  EXCURSION 

TO 

THE    MISSIONARY    SHIP, 

AND    SUBSEQUENT    EVENTS, 
BY    THE 

REY.  J.   CAMPBELL. 

The  Directors  having  announced  that  the 
Missionary  Ship,  Camden^  was  in  the  West  India 
export  Dock,  and  that,  during  a  given  period,  she 
might  be  viewed  by  the  Christian  public,  immense 
throngs  daily  availed  themselves  of  the  opportu- 
nity of  inspecting  her.  The  degree  of  interest  she 
excited  will  not  easily  be  conceived  by  those  who 
were  not  present.  If  one  day  might  be  taken  as 
a  sample  of  the  rest,  she  resembled  a  Thames 
steamer  in  the  height  of  the  season.  Numbers 
clustered  on  the  pier ;  the  deck  was  densely 
crowded ;  and  below  she  was,  at  times,  so 
thronged  with  living  beings,  that  small  and  great 
were  literally  wedged  together,  and  could  neither 
get  up  nor  down,  backwards  nor  forwards.  It 
was  only  after  long  waiting  and  much  difficulty 
that  one  could  obtain  a  very  imperfect  view  of  her 
interior  ;  and  happy  were  they  who  could  find  or 
force  a  passage  to  the  principal  cabin,  on  the  table 


EXCURSION    TO    THE    SHIP. 


117 


of  which  lay  a  book  for  the  msertion  of  the  names 
of  visitors.  Such  seems  to  have  been  the  daily- 
state  of  things,  during  most  of  the  period  she  lay 
in  the  dock  ;  and  it  deserves  to  be  remembered 
that  curiosity  could  not  be  gratified  by  a  majority 
of  the  visitors  on  very  easy  terms.  So  distant 
are  the  docks  from  the  City,  and  especially  from 
the  suburbs  of  the  north,  south,  and  west,  that 
multitudes  must  have  performed  a  journey,  back- 
wards and  forwards,  of  not  less  than  fourteen  or 
fifteen  miles.  When  all  was  ready,  the  vessel  left 
the  docks  on  the  afternoon  of  Monday,  the  9th 
current,  and  was  towed  by  a  steamer  down  the 
river,  a  short  distance  beyond  Gravesend,  where 
she  anchored,  and  on  the  following  day  received 
on  board  her  live  stock  and  other  provisions. 

That  the  honour  due  to  Mr.  Williams  might  be 
paid  by  those  who  love  him,  as  well  for  his  own 
sake  as  for  that  of  the  glorious  work  to  which  he 
is  devoted,  the  Directors  engaged  the  steam-vessel, 
*'  City  of  Canterbury ^''^  that  they  with  their  friends 
might  accompany  him  and  his  fellow-missionaries 
from  London  to  Gravesend,  to  the  ship.  A  com- 
mittee of  Directors  were  appointed  to  manage  all 
matters  relating  to  the  vessel.  To  them  belonged 
the  arrangements  of  the  day,  which  must  have 
been  well  considered  and  matured,  for  event  suc- 
ceeded to  event,  as  duly  and  effectively  as  the 
most  refined  lover  of  order  could  have  desired. 
The  company  were  admitted  by  tickets.  Each 
Director,  lay  and  clerical,  received  four,  for  which 
they  paid  two  guineas.  One  of  these  entitled  the 
possessor  to  dinner  and  tea,  and  a  free  passage  up 
and  down  the  river.  About  370  were  issued,  and 
a   considerable    number     were   giv^tuilously  dis- 


118  EXCURSION    TO    THE 

tributed  among  missionaries  and  their  families, 
missionary  students  and  schoolmasters,  and  func- 
tionaries connected  with  the  Mission  House. 
The  number  on  board  was  by  no  means  uncom- 
fortably great,  and  yet  sufficiently  large  for  both 
private  and  public  objects,  for  the  gratification  of 
friendship,  and  the  operation  of  sympathy. 

Ten  o'clock  on  the  forenoon  of  Wednesday, 
April  11,  1838,  was  the  hour  fixed  for  leaving 
the  Steam-wharf,  London-bridge.  At  that  time, 
accordingly,  the  Directors,  the  rest  of  the  com- 
pany, the  Rev.  J.  Williams,  and  the  other  mis- 
sionaries to  the  South  Seas,  went  on  board.  An 
hour  before  this,  however,  every  spot  from  which 
a  view  of  the  steamer  could  be  obtained,  was 
occupied  and  crowded  by  a  highly  respectable 
assemblage  of  both  sexes  and  of  all  ages,  eager  to 
obtain  a  last  look  at  the  honoured  missionary,  to 
testify  their  respect  for  him  and  for  his  company, 
to  evince  their  sympathy  with  his  objects,  and 
once  more  to  "  bid  him  God-speed."  The  wea- 
ther— since  so  stormy — on  that  morning  was  un- 
usually fine  ;  the  very  heavens  seemed  to  smile 
on  the  enterprise.  Seldom,  indeed,  has  June  or 
July  beheld  a  day  of  greater  beauty  or  brighter 
sunshine.  The  warmth  was  all  but  oppressive. 
At  mid-day  it  was  so  intense  that  the  sea-breeze 
was  felt  to  be  refreshing.  This  happy  temperature 
cheered  the  heart,  and  gave  a  tone  of  buoyancy 
to  the  spirits.  Every  thing  on  the  river  and  its 
banks  wore  a  joyous  and  holiday  appearance,  while, 
on  board,  gladness  sat  on  every  countenance,  and 
the  language  of  all  hearts  seemed  to  be,  "  it  is 
good  to  be  here." 

Five  minutes  before  ten  the  bell  began  to  ring, 


MISSIONARY    SHIP.  119 

and  to  announce  that  the  hour  of  departure  had 
arrived.  Considerable  emotion  was  now  manifest, 
and  many  an  eye  was  dimmed  by  the  starting 
tear.  The  hour  strikes,  and  the  bell  ceases.  A 
silence  almost  awful  now  ensues,  disturbed  only 
by  the  fierce  hiss  of  the  steam,  and  the  incipient 
motion  of  the  machinery.  The  signal  is  given, 
and  the  engines  slowly  begin  to  revolve,  and  the 
vessel  moves.  At  this  moment  Mr.  Williams 
ascends  the  platform  which  connects  the  paddle- 
boxes,  and  is  cordially  cheered  by  his  friends  on 
the  shore,  the  ladies  waving  their  handkerchiefs. 
He  continued  bowing  to  their  repeated  plaudits, 
until  the  vessel  had  reached  some  distance,  and 
became  shrouded  by  the  shipping  on  the  river. 

Now  separated  from  the  distracting  influence  of 
the  numerous  spectators  on  the  shore  and  the 
bridge,  the  company  began  to  assume  a  more 
social  aspect,  and  to  recognize  each  other  :  all 
over  the  vessel  were  to  be  seen  greetings  and  cor- 
dial salutations.  The  company,  as  a  whole,  wor- 
thily represented  the  admirable,  the  truly  liberal, 
and  most  unsectarian  Society  to  which  it  stood 
related.  There  were  present  a  large  proportion  of 
the  London  dissenting  ministers,  among  whom 
were  the  Rev.  Drs.  Henderson,  Halley,  Bennett, 
Fletcher,  and  Morrison,  Messrs.  Jackson,  Lewis, 
Blackburn,  Dobson,  Gilbert,  Yockney,  Burnet, 
Tidman  ;  and  it  was  understood  that  urgent  en- 
gagements alone  prevented  the  attendance  of  cer- 
tain other  well  known  and  much  respected  names. 
From  the  Mission  House  were  the  Rev.  Secre- 
taries, Messrsc  Arundel  and  Ellis,  W.  Campbell, 
Medhurst,  Crisp,  and  Knill,  and  other  mission- 
aries.    The  leading  lay  members  of  most  of  the 


320  EXCURSION   TO    THE 

City  churches  connected  with  the  Society,   with 
their   ladies,    and   some  with    members    of  their 
famihes,  attended  in  full  proportion  to  the  pastors. 
There  were  present   also    some    of    the   country 
Directors,  among  whom  were  the  Rev.  W.  Jones, 
of  Bolton,   and  J.  Clapham,  Esq.,  of  Leeds.     It 
will  be  obvious  that  a  large  number  of  the  whole 
company  were  known  to  each  other,  many  of  them 
long  and  intimately ;  a  still  larger  number  were 
slightly   acquainted,  and  many   were    introduced 
to    each     other     by    mutual     friends.       Seldom, 
indeed,  in  all  respects,  has  such  a  company  met 
on  the  deck   of  a  steamer.     The    feeling  which 
appeared  to  pervade  the  mass  was  not  simply  one 
of  polite  civility,  it  was  one  of  friendship,  free  and 
cordial  ;  it  was  more,  it  was  to  a  large  extent  the 
"  fellowship  of  the   saints,"   the  feeling  of  affec- 
tionate   brotherhood.       Even  among    those    who 
had  never   beibre  seen  each   other's  faces,  there 
seemed   to  be    a   sort    of   mutual   cordiality,  and 
general  confidence.     Sect  and  self  were  left  upon 
the  shore,  and  "  good  will  to  men"  was  the  ruling 
passion.     The  bond  of  union  was  the  spirit  of  the 
gospel,  under  its   most  glorious  aspect — the  spirit 
of  missions  ;  while  the   general    theme   was  Mr. 
Williams,  the  Camden,  and  the  South  Seas. 

Mr.  Bateman  and  Mr.  Burnet  having  been  ap- 
pointed by  the  "  Ship  Committee"  to  regulate  the 
business  of  the  day,  Mr.  Burnet,  when  the  ves- 
sel was  near  to  Erith,  stood  up  to  inform  the  peo- 
ple that  they  would  now  have  an  opportunity  of 
bidding  their  friends  farewell !  The  Missionaries, 
with  their  wives  and  children,  were  then  seated  at 
the  stern  of  the  vessel :  first,  Mr.  Williams,  with 
a  lovely  boy  about  four  and  a  half  years  of  age  on 


MISSIONARY   SHIP.  121 

his  knee,  then  Mrs.  Williams,  then  the  rest,  with 
Mr.  John  Williams  and  his  wife.  The  whole  com- 
pany on  board  then  proceeded  to  walk  round  the 
stern,  each  person  coming  first  into  contact  with 
Mr.  Willliams,  at  whose  feet  might  be  said  to  be 
the  "  strait  gate"  of  the  procession  :  many,  being 
reluctant  to  utter  the  last  word,  stood  lingering 
and  gazing  on  the  manly  and  benevolent  coun- 
tenance of  the  departing  evangelist,  adding  an- 
other word,  and  yet  another !  Had  nature  been 
left  to  herself,  the  sun  had  gone  down  before  the 
last  leave  had  been  taken.  Anticipating  this,  Mr. 
Burnet  and  Mr.  Bateman  stood  beside  Mr.  Wil- 
liams, and  allowing  -a  very  brief  space  to  each 
adieu,  urged  the  people  on.  This  was  a  most 
affecting  scene.  During  the  long  time  which  it 
occupied,  conversation  was  in  a  great  measure  sus- 
pended, whilst  nearly  the  whole  company,  formed 
into  a  lengthened  column,  advanced  with  an  almost 
imperceptible  step  to  the  trying  spot.  This  was, 
doubtless,  a  season  of  deep  and  solemn  reflection 
with  the  majority ;  and,  probably,  many  godly 
people  never  before  so  fully  entered  into  the  force 
of  these  words  of  the  Apostle,  '*  And  they  all 
wept  sore,  and  fell  on  Paul's  neck  and  kissed  him, 
sorrowing  most  of  all  for  the  words  which  he 
spake,  that  they  should  see  his  face  no  more^  and 
they  accompanied  him  unto  the  ship." — Acts  xx. 
37,  38.  Observing  the  company,  as  they  returned, 
on  the  other  side  of  the  vessel,  many  a  heart  was 
full  and  many  a  tear  was  shed.  To  not  a  few, 
even  should  Mr.  Williams  return,  it  was  unques- 
tionably a  last  look,  a  long  farewell  !  They  will 
never,  never  more  see  his  face  on  this  side  eternity  ! 
At  this  moment  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williams,  though 
11  ^ 


122  EXCURSION    TO    THE 

the  principal,  were  not  the  sole  cause  of  emotion  ; 
much  respect  and  Christian  affection  were  felt  also 
for  their  youthful  companions,  who  were  forsaking 
all  and  going  forth  to  the  Gentiles.  This  was  in- 
deed with  many  an  hour  of  deep  parental  self-ex- 
amination, whether  they  could  thus  surrender  their 
children  for  God  ;  and,  perhaps,  with  some  of  the 
juniors,  whether  they  could  thus  surrender  them- 
selves. The  scene,  taken  as  a  whole,  supplied  to 
the  mind  of  believers  abundant  materials  for  pro- 
fitable meditations.  There  was,  however,  in  the 
breasts  of  a  number,  a  feeling  of  pain  amounting 
to  anguish.  Some  were  heard  to  say,  they  would 
not  for  any  consideration  be  present  at  a  repetition 
of  the  process.  To  a  superficial  observer,  indeed, 
this  act  of  kindness  might  be  viewed  in  the  light 
of  an  unintentional  torture  ;  nor  had  such  a  view 
been  erroneous,  if  the  influence  of  the  step  had 
been  confined  to  the  passing  hour ;  but  it  is  other- 
wise. When  the  sorrow  has  terminated,  and  the 
tears  have  been  dried  up,  the  moral  impressions  of 
such  a  parting  will,  on  both  sides,  be  deep  and  per- 
manent, strong  and  salutary.  Such  scenes  as  this 
exhibit  the  missionary  character  in  its  own  proper 
aspect ;  it  is  a  rendering  of  honour  to  whom  honour 
is  unquestionably  due.  Those  men,  and  others  like 
them,  are  the  noblest  benefactors  of  their  race,  the 
purest,  the  greatest  philanthropists  in  the  world  ; 
they  sustain  the  closest  resemblance  to  the  spirit, 
and  procedure  of  the  very  Son  of  God  himself; 
their  work  is  worthy  of  the  best  members  of  the 
best  families  in  the  empire.  This  is  an  office 
which  imparts  to  rank  more  lustre  than  it  can  pos- 
sibly derive  from  it.  He  is  truly  great,  whatever 
be  his  origin,  who  becomes  a  voluntary  exile  from 


MISSIONARY    SHIP.  123 

home  and  country,  sacrificing  all  pleasures  but  the 
pleasure  of  doing  good  to  millions  whom  he  never 
saw,  and  from  whom  in  this  world  he  can  derive 
no  compensation.  This  is  glory — this  is  heroism  ! 
These  are  the  men  whose  works  will  live  in  ages  to 
come,  and  whose  names  the  lips  of  unborn  genera- 
tions will  bless  !  The  Christian  missionary,  who 
goes  forth  and  charms  wild  and  ferocious  nations 
into  bands  of  brothers  and  families  of  peace  ;  who 
teaches  them  to  clothe  their  nakedness,  to  build 
cities,  to  cultivate  the  soil,  and  practise  the  arts  of 
civilization  ;  who  reduces  their  languages  to  a 
written  alphabet,  controlling  them  by  grammar, 
and  comprising  them  in  dictionaries  ;  who  estab- 
lishes schools  and  introduces  the  sciences  and  lite- 
rature of  England  ;  who  gives  them  the  word  of 
God  in  their  mother-tongue,  the  institutions  of  mar- 
riage, of  the  Sabbath,  of  representative  government, 
and  of  Christianity  ;  the  man  who  does  this,  well 
merits  the  notice  of  nobles  and  the  patronage  of 
kings. 

It  will  one  day  be  discovered  that  the  friend  of 
missions  is  the  friend  of  man  ;  and  that  missionary 
institutions  are  the  brightest  ornaments  of  a 
country.  Let  any  candid  person  sit  down  and 
carefully  read  Williams's  "  Missionary  Enter- 
prises," and  then  ascertain  the  names  and  the  num- 
bers of  those  who,  during  the  last  twenty  years, 
have  obtained  the  honour  of  knighthood,  and  ex- 
amine the  meritorious  grounds  on  which  that  hon- 
our has  been  bestowed  ;  and  we  most  confidently 
predict,  that  such  a  man  will  not  consider  that  the 
royal  prerogative  would  have  been  degraded  had  a 
place  among  them  been  assigned  to  John  Williams, 
and  that  place  the  foremost ;    he   has,  however, 


124  EXCURSION    TO   THE 

not  been  without  notice.  We  are  devoutly  thank- 
ful for  the  favour  which  God  has  given  him 
in  the  eyes  of  the  great,  as  much  for  their  sakes  as 
for  his,  and  that  of  his  cause.  The  ecclesiastical 
historians  of  future  ages  will  record  with  approba- 
tion King  William's  gracious  permission  to  dedi- 
cate to  him  the  "  Missionary  Enterprises,"  when 
many  contemporary  events  shall  have  been  for- 
gotten. The  last  Sovereign  of  England  received 
the  book  ;  who  will  say,  that  the  present  may  not 
one  day  receive  the  author  ? 

The  demonstration  of  respect,  confidence,  and 
esteem,  that  day  given  by  the  Directors,  and  the 
Metropolitan  Churches  with  their  Pastors,  must  be 
attended  with  great  results  upon  the  moral  prin- 
ciples and  the  missionary  labours,  not  only  of  Mr. 
Williams  and  his  youthful  associates,  but  also 
upon  those  of  the  whole  body  of  the  South  Sea 
missionaries,  and  their  brethren  connected  with  the 
same  society  all  over  the  world  ;  they  will  feel 
honoured  in  the  honour  then  conferred  upon 
Mr.  Williams,  and  encouraged  in  the  encourage- 
ment administered  to  him  ;  it  is,  moreover,  a  sign 
to  all  faithful  labourers  abroad,  that  the  churches 
at  home  are  increasingly  sensible  to  the  claims  of 
their  character  and  work,  and  prepared  to  sustain 
them  by  prayer  and  every  proper  means. 

But  to  return.  At  this  moment  Mr.  Williams 
was  a  striking  spectacle  of  real  moral  greatness. 
On  his  right  hand  sat  a  beloved  weeping  sister ; 
and  on  his  left,  a  still  more  beloved  weeping  wife, 
whose  case  constrained  especial  sympathy  from 
such  as  knew  it.  With  a  constitution  apparently 
broken,  health  but  very  imperfectly  established, 
spirits  naturally  far  from  high,  leaving  behind  a 


MISSIONARY    SHIP.  125 

darling  child  and  a  venerated  mother,  whom  it  is 
not  probable  she  will  ever  see  again,  entering  on 
another  long  and  perilous  voyage,  to  encounter  the 
hardships  and  sufferings  of  a  missionary  life,  with 
the  prospect  of  much  absence  on  the  part  of  her 
huf^nd  and  not  a  little  danger;  so  situated,  she 
might  well  be  sad,  and  whose  heart  can  withhold 
sympathy  ?  Thus  circumstanced,  the  veteran 
missionary  appeared  to  great  advantage.  There 
he  sits,  with  a  countenance  as  placid  and  a  heart 
as  tranquil,  as  those  of  the  lovely  little  one  on  his 
knee  !  If  aught  disquieted  him,  it  was  from  sym- 
pathy with  others  rather  than  from  any  considera- 
tions appertaining  to  himself  It  seemed  as  if  his 
feelings  were  much  akin  to  those  of  the  apostle, 
when  he  said,  "  What  mean  ye  to  weep  and  to  break 
mine  heart?  for  I  am  ready,  not  to  be  bound  only, 
but  also  to  die  at  Jerusalem  for  the  name  of  the 
Lord  Jesus." — Acts  xxi.  13.  His  was  not  the 
composure  of  indifference,  it  was  as  far  from  that 
as  from  levity — it  was  "  the  peace  of  God  keeping 
his  heart  and  mind."  Throughout  the  morning 
he  appeared  to  be  in  a  very  calm  frame,  but  deeply 
thoughtful ;  he  did  not  mix  extensively  with  the 
multitude,  nor  indulge  in  any  protracted  conversa- 
tion. One  might  have  said,  "  That  man  sighs  for 
solitude."  He  sat  till  the  whole  company  had 
passed,  with  a  word,  a  wish,  or  a  request,  suited 
to  everybody.  The  missionaries  and  their  wives 
were  affected  variously.  In  the  case  of  those  who 
had  come  from  a  distance,  and  already  bid  a  last 
adieu  to  father,  mother,  and  friend,  the  "  bitterness 
of  death  was  passed  ;"  a  holy  calm  had  succeeded 
the  first  tempest  of  the  soul,  and  they  went  through 
11* 


126  EXCURSION    TO    THE 

the  parting  scene  with  a  solemn  composure  :  such 
as  belonged  to  the  city  or  its  neighbourhood  had 
much  more  to  endure ;  it  is  nevertheless,  but  just 
to  say,  that  they  sustained  the  trial  in  a  very  cre- 
ditable manner.  It  was  pleasing,  amid  all  the 
sadness,  to  look  on  Mr.  John  Williams,  son  G#the 
missionary,  who  also  returns  with  his  honoured 
father.  He  was  all  gladness  and  joy;  it  seemed 
to  John  a  day  of  jubilee  !  to  him  the  islands  are 
his  mother  country ;  and  it  is  understood  that 
England,  with  all  her  glories,  had  never  the  same 
charms  for  him  as  his  beloved  native  isle.  It  will 
be  gratifying  to  the  thousand  friends,  thrice  told,  of 
his  father,  to  hear  that  this  amiable  young  man 
returns  to  promote  the  arts  and  commerce  among 
the  islands,  and  that  he  has  been  assiduously 
qualifying  himself  for  this  work  during  his  resi- 
dence in  England.  His  youthful  companion,  who 
is  reported  to  be  every  way  worthy  of  him,  and 
admirably  adapted  to  the  station  which  Providence 
has  assigned  her,  and  instrumentally  calcutated  to 
be  very  extensively  useful,  seemed  to  participate 
in  the  jubilant  feelings  of  her  husband,  and  to 
look  on  leaving  the  land  of  her  birth  as  no  serious 
hardship. 

When  the  Farewell  was  over,  the  missionaries 
and  their  personal  friends  went  down  into  the  after 
cabin  to  dine.  Now  succeeded  a  brief  pause,  and 
a  season  of  reflection.  Attention  was  soon  called 
on  the  part  of  numbers  to  an  incident  which  ex- 
cited much  interest.  It  was  known  by  a  number 
that  Mr.  Williams's  little  son  Samuel,  a  lad  about 
12  or  13  years  of  age,  was  to  be  left  behind;  his 
attachment  to  his  parents  was  unusually  ardent, 


MISSIONARY  SHIP.  127 

and  the  parting  was  dreaded.  At  his  request,  his 
father,  on  the  morning  of  embarkation,  wrote  in 
his  album  the  following  letter  : — 

AN  AFFECTIONATE  FATHER'S  PARTING  WISH. 

"  My  dear  and  much-loved  Samuel, 

"You  wish  me  to  write  a  few  lines  in  your 
album,  and  I  comply  with  your  dear  wish  on  the 
morning  of  our  embarkation  for  the  far  distant 
isles  of  the  Pacific,  whither  I  and  your  dear 
mother  are  again  going,  to  spread  the  knowledge 
of  a  precious  Saviour,  whom  we  wish  you  to  love 
more  fervently,  and  serve  more  faithfully,  than  we 
have  done.  We  both  unite  in  assuring  you,  my 
dear,  dear  boy,  that  Jesus  is  the  most  affectionate 
friend  and  the  best  of  all  Masters.  The  caresses 
of  a  dear  doting  mother,  the  council  and  instruc- 
tion of  a  tender-hearted  father,  will  avail  you 
nothing  without  the  friendship  of  Jesus  Christ ! 
We  love  him  ourselves,  and  the  united  wish  of 
your  dear  mother  and  myself  is,  that  you  may  love 
him  too. 

"  We  feel  very  keenly  the  pang  of  separation. 
We  love  our  country,  we  love  our  affectionate 
relatives,  we  love  with  an  intensity  of  feeling, 
which  parents  only  know,  our  dear,  very  dear 
Samuel.  Why  then  do  you  go  ?  We  go  because 
Jesus  Christ  has  said,  "  He  that  loveth  father  or 
mother,  sister  or  brother,  wife  or  children,  or 
lands,  more  than  me,  is  not  worthy  of  me."  We 
shall  pray  for  you,  my  dear  boy,  every  day  of  our 
lives,  and  trust,  in  answer  to  these  prayers,  that 
God,  by  his  grace,  will  take  possession  of  your 
young  and  tender  heart,  so  that  when  we  retura 


128  EXCURSION    TO    THE 

to  England,  which  we  hope  to  do  in  a  few  years, 
we  shall  find  our  beloved  boy  not  only  an  intelli- 
gent and  amiable,  but  a  pious  and  devoted  youth, 
enjoying  the  good  opinion  and  affection  of  all  who 
know  you,  and  living  in  the  fear  of  God.  This, 
my  very  dear  boy,  will  enhance  the  pleasure  of 
meeting  beyond  the  power  of  description. 

*'  But,  my  dear,  dear  Sam.  must  pray  for  him- 
self, and  he  has  God's  own  declaration  for  his  en- 
couragement, "  When  my  father  and  my  mother 
forsake  me,  then  the  Lord  will  take  me  up.''  We 
have  forsaken  you,  my  dear  boy,  under  very  pe- 
culiar circumstances.  It  is  for  the  cause  of  God 
that  we  have  made  this  sacrifice.  Plead  this  with 
God,  when  you  pray  and  beseech  God  to  be  a 
Father  to  you. 

"  The  Lord  bless  thee  my  dear  boy  and  keep 
th  ee. 

*'  The  Lord  make  his  face  to  shine  upon  thee. 

*'  The  Lord  be  gracious  unto  thee. 

"  The  Lord  lift  up  his  countenance  upon  thee, 
and  give  thee  peace. 

"  These  are  the  wishes  and  fervent  prayers  of 
"Your  affectionate  father, 

*'  John  W^illtams." 

*^  April  nth,,  1838." 

This  circumstance  became  known,  and  the 
album,  through  some  means,  found  its  way  upon 
deck.  The  letter  was  copied  by  several  among 
the  company,  while  the  book  was  passing  from 
hand  to  hand.  Every  feeling,  and  above  all, 
every  parental  heart,  will  read  that  beautiful 
effusion  of  love,  with  no  ordinary  emotion.  It 
is  valuable  for  its  own  sake ;   but  taken  in  con- 


MISSIONARY  SHIP.  129 

r.exion  with  the  author,  the  occasion,  the  time, 
and  the  place,  its  vakie  is  greatly  enhanced. 
Should  the  parents  and  child  never  meet  again, 
what  an  interest  will  attach  to  this  letter !  Only 
a  parent  can  comprehend  it ;  and  a  parent  can 
hardly  read  it  without  finding  his  heart  the 
better  for  the  perusal.  It  stirs  up  the  secret 
springs  of  the  parental  bosom!  Perhaps  nothing 
that  Mr.  Williams  ever  wrote  or  spoke  has  ex- 
cited a  deeper  interest  than  this  letter  did  on  that 
solemn  day.  Mr.  Tyler,  of  Bolt-court,  Fleet- 
street,  printer  of  the  "  Missionary  Enterprises," 
read  it  on  deck  to  a  circle  of  friends,  who  listened 
to  it  with  tender,  or  rather  with  tearful  admiration. 
Those,  and,  it  is  hoped,  thousands  more,  will  be 
pleased  to  tind  it  in  this  narrative  ;  as,  to  many,  its 
appearance  and  perusal,  and  attendant  occur- 
rences, formed,  together,  one  of  the  most  touching 
incidents  of  the  day.  Allowing  that  a  portion  of 
its  effect  arose  from  its  accompanying  circum- 
stances,— which  cannot  be  doubted,  for  no  solitary 
reader  can  enter  into  it  as  did  those  who  read  or 
heard  it  at  the  moment, — still,  on  various  grounds, 
there  is  reason  to  believe  that  much  substantial 
and  permanent  interest  attaches  to  it,  and  its  pub- 
lication involves  no  breach  of  propriety,  or  viola- 
tion of  secrecy. 

•Samuel  had  long  dreaded  the  approach  of  this 
eventful  day  ;  till  after  dinner,  however,  he  bore 
up  wonderfully,  but  then  the  dear  lad  was  quite 
overpowered.  The  fearful  hour  was  at  hand  ;  the 
remaining  intercourse  with  his  parents 'was  now 
measured  by  minutes.  His  sufferings  amounted 
to  agony.  The  dear  child  wept  loudly  and  most 
bitterly  at  the  thought  of  separation.      For  a  time 


130  EXCURSION    TO    THE 

all  attempts  to  calm  or  comfort  him  utterly  failed. 
Some  friends,  more  kind  than  wise,  tried  to  reason 
with  the  distracted  boy,  but  he  gave  them  answers 
worthy  of  an  older  head,  and  such  as  they  could 
not  resist.  To  his  excellent  father  this  was  the 
most  trying  moment  of  the  whole  scene.  In  spite 
of  his  firmness  and  manhood,  a  tear  dropt  while 
in  his  arms  he  supported  the  dear  youth.  By 
degrees  the  child  recovered,  and,  after  parting,  the 
little  islander,  worthy  of  his  name  and  parentage, 
was  among  the  foremost  in  cheering  the  vessel 
which  contained  his  beloved  parents,  to  whose 
"tender  treatment"  of  him  he  referred  with  such 
pathos  as  touched  every  bosom.  Mr.  Williams 
at  one  time  cried  out,  "Where  is  Sam?"  A 
gentleman,  if  we  mistake  not,  Mr.  Challis,  held  the 
boy  up,  and  the  little  fellow  clapped  his  hands  ! 

After  the  missionaries  and  their  personal  friends 
had  dined,  the  company  were  admitted  in  separate 
paties,  according  to  the  size  of  the  tables  Mr. 
Bateman  and  Mr.  Burnet  stood,  alternately,  the 
one  at  the  top  and  the  other  at  the  bottom  of  the 
stairs  of  the  chief  cabin,  to  regulate  the  admission 
of  the  parties  by  tickets.  This  was  a  somewhat 
teasing  occupation,  which  lasted  a  considerable 
time.  The  company  clustered  in  a  crowd  around 
the  entrance  of  the  cabin,  and,  being  almost  all 
friends  and  acquaintances,  in  the  most  good- 
natured  manner  competed  for  the  tickets  of  ad- 
mission. It  was  very  amusing  to  see  and  hear 
what  passed  at  this  time.  Mr.  Burnet's  wit  was, 
as  usual,  very  seviceable  in  enabling  him  to  keep 
at  bay  his  playful  but  hungry  assailants.  Before 
that  all  had  dined,  attention  to  time  and  tide 
required  the  commencement  of  the  parting   ser- 


MISSIONARY  SHIP.  131 

vice.  The  Rev.  J.  Arundel  accordingly  gave 
out  the  following  lines,  composed  for  the  occasion, 
it  was  understood,  by  Master  E.  R.  C,  the  pro- 
mising son  of  the  gifted  Editor  of  the  "  Patriot  :^^ — 

Bound  for  the  Southern  Seas, 

A  b.irk  is  leaving  home  ; 
Her  canvass  swells  upon  the  breeze, 

Her  prow  divides  the  foam. 
Impatient  of  delay ; 

And  weeping  friends  are  there, 
A  long,  a  last  farewell  to  say, 

To  breathe  the  parting  prayer. 

Go,  "Messenger  of  Peace  !" 

Richer  than  argosies, 
Thou  bearest  tidings  of  release 

To  lands  of  other  skies. 
Sad  is  the  parting  word, 

Though  duty  reconciles ; 
Yet  go,  thou  servant  of  the  Lord, 

For  in  those  sun-lit  isles, 

Hearts  for  thy  coming  burn, — 

Their  father  and  their  friend  ; — 
Their  prayers,  and  ours,  for  thy  return. 

Shall  to  ONE  THRONE  ascend. 
And  if  thy  last  look  fall 

Sad,  on  thy  native  shore, — 
If  friends  that  see  thee  part,  like  Paul, 

"  Shall  see  thy  face  no  nfiore," — 

Yet  shall  thy  spirit  be 

Strong,  trusting  in  the  Lord. 
"Who  leaveth  home  or  friends  for  me 

Is  not  without  reward." 
Servant  of  God,  farewell! 

Long  be  thy  course,  and  bright! 
Till  friends,  who  here  must  parted  dwell, 

All  in  one  fold  unite. 


132  EXCURSION   TO   THE 

On  the  conclusion  of  the  hymn,  the  Rev.  T. 
Jackson,  of  Stockwell,  the  only  surviving  Di- 
rector, we  are  informed,  who  was  on  board  the 
ship  Duff  on  the  day  of  her  departure,  then 
offered  up  fervent  prayer  in  behalf  of  Mr.  Wil- 
liams and  his  fellow-voyagers,  tenderly  com- 
mending them  to  God,  and  the  word  of  his  grace, 
while  on  the  mighty  ocean,  and  imploring  for 
them  every  appropriate  and  needful  blessing,  when 
they  reached  their  respective  spheres  of  labour. 
The  service  concluded  by  Dr.  Fletcher  giving  out, 

"From  all  that  dwell  below  the  skies 
Let  the  Creator's  praise  arise! 
Let  the  Redeemei''s  name  be  sung 
In  every  land,  by  every  tongue. 

"Eternal  are  thy  mercies,  Lord ; 
Eternal  truth  attends  thy  word  ! 
Thy  praise  shall  sound  from  shore  to  shore, 
Till  suns  shall  rise  and  set  no  more '" 

This  was  the  signal  for  separation ;  accordingly, 
the  verses  being  ended,  the  missionaries  and  all 
that  appertained  to  them,  immediately  went  on 
board  the  Camden.  Here  ihe  farewell  scewe,  was 
in  part  renewed,  between  the  missionaries  and 
their  relations  and  especial  friends.  With  the 
exception  of  one  lady,  who  had  to  be  supported 
on  board,  all,  on  both  sides,  passed  through  the 
task  with  surprising  fortitude.  They  had  to 
ascend  from  the  deck  to  the  paddle-box  of  the 
steamer,  and  then  to  descend  into  the  Camden, 
At  the  foot  of  the  steps  of  the  ladder  of  the 
steamer,  there  was  a  most  touching  exhibition  of 
the  force  of  human  affection,  between  two  .ittle 
brothers,  sons  of  one  of  the  missionaries,  the  one 


MISSIONARY    SHIP.  133 

of  whom  was  to  accompany  his  parents,  and  the 
other  to  remain.  They  rushed  into  the  embrace 
of  each  other  in  a  manner  that  deeply  affected 
every  beholder. 

The  '*  Ship  Committee,"  prudently  anticipating 
extraordinary  anxiety  on  the  part  of  numbers  to 
board  the  Camden^  and  the  various  consequences 
that  might  result  from  allowing  it,  wisely  resolved 
that  no  person  whatever  should  be  permitted  to 
do  so.  Messrs.  Burnet  and  Bateman  accordingly 
took  their  stand,  and  without  respect  of  persons 
acted  upon  the  arrangements  of  the  Committee, 
mildly,  yet  most  resolutely,  interdicting  all  at- 
tempts to  board  the  vessel.  This  measure  was 
very  mortifying  to  those  who  had  not  seen  her  in 
the  dock ;  but  there  was  only  one  law  for  all,  and 
no  remedy.  Among  the  disappointed  was  the 
excellent  Sir  Culling  Eardly  Smith,  who,  at  a 
late  period,  manifested  the  utmost  anxiety  to  see 
Mr.  Williams  in  the  Camden.  Some  gentlemen 
conceiving  that  his  well-known  liberality  of  spirit, 
and  his  generous  support  of  every  good  work, 
combined  with  his  rank  and  station,  might  almost 
entitle  him  to  form  an  exception,  urged  him  to  make 
the  experiment,  convinced  that  should  the  favour 
be  granted,  none  would  murmur  at  this  solitary 
act  of  partiality.  He  attempted  but  without  suc- 
cess. He  submitted  to  the  law  with  great  good 
temper  ;  while  the  observers  considered  that  the 
refusal  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  submission  on 
the  other,  did  equal  honour  to  both  parties.  In 
spite,  however  of  all  the  vigilance  that  was  exer- 
cised, an  individual,  tired  apparently  of  his  coun- 
try, and  longing  to  see  the  islands  of  the  Pacific, 
got  in  the  course  of  the  day  by  some  means  on 
12 


134  EXCURSION  TO  TEE 

board.  There  he  was,  stript  and  bustling  about 
as  one  of  the  crew.  He  was  discovered,  however,, 
and  compelled  to  seek  his  coat  and  take  his 
departure. 

When  all  were  on  board,  the  Camden  imme- 
diately weighed  anchor,  and  the  wind  being  fa- 
vourable, she  was  soon  partially  under  sail ;  and 
in  a  little  time,  she  unfurled  all  her  sails,  and 
wind  and  tide  being  with  her,  she  glided  down 
the  river,  in  close  companionship  with  the  steam- 
vessel,  which  kept  by  her  side  nine  or  ten  miles, 
at  c  distance  frequently  so  smal',  that  many  a 
friendly  greeting  was  yet  exchanged  before  the 
last,  last  adieu!  This  was  a  very  pleasant  part  of 
the  business.  It  tended  to  break  the  shock  by 
confounding  the  line  of  separation.  The  company 
of  the  Camden  appeared  to  have  regained  their 
equanimity,  and  began  to  look  happy,  when  Mr. 
Williams,  standing  near  the  helm,  and  looking  up 
at  his  sprightly  bark,  all  sails  set  and  her  three 
flags  flying,  exclaimed  in  rapture  to  the  people  in 
the  steamer,  "Is  not  she  a  beauty?"  At  three 
o'clock  it  was  resolved  to  separate,  that  the  com- 
pany might  reach  town  in  proper  time.  Pre- 
viously, however,  nothing  would  serve  some 
generous  British  hearts,  but,  in  true  seaman 
style,  the  City  of  Canterbury  must  give  the 
Camden  three  cheers.  Others  feared  that  this 
mode  of  salutation  was  not  exactly  in  unison  with 
the  hearts  of  many  on  board  both  vessels,  but  it 
was  overruled,  and  agreed  that  the  cheers  should 
be  given.  The  Captain  of  the  Canterbury  gave 
the  signal,  and  the  cheers  were  given  accordingly, 
and  returned  by  the  Camden.  But  it  was  clear 
that  on  both  sides  there  was  too  much  sadness  to 


MISSIONARY   SHIP.  135 

^dmit  of  giving  full  effect  to  this  mode  of  saluta- 
tion. The  cheers  were  but  faint  and  feeble,  and 
by  no  means  general.  But  if  the  cheering  was  only 
partial,  the  inward  prayer  was  no  doubt  universal, 
although  all  did  not  possess  sufficient  buoyancy 
of  spirits  to  give  their  feelings  vocal  and  voci- 
ferous expression.  Two  of  the  company,  attach- 
ed friends  of  Mr.  Williams,  went  alonp-  with  him, 
Mr,  Snow,*  the  bookseller  of  Paternoster- row,  his 
publisher,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Prout,  of  Halstead, 
who  is,  heart  and  soul,  a  missionary,  and  who 
some  time  since  relinquished  a  pastoral  charge 
that  he  might  go  to  the  heathen,  under  the 
auspices  of  the  London  Missionary  Society,  but 
was  prevented  by  the  medical  opinion  of  his 
health.  It  was  pleasing  to  hear  the  respectful 
remarks  of  gentlemen  in  the  City  of  Canterbury, 
as  they  looked  at  Mr.  Prout,  standing  in  the 
Camden  besides  Mr.  Williams,  and  their  Christian 
regrets  the  circumstances  should  have  prevented 
his  coporeal  presence  where  his  heart  so  clearly 
is.  They  intend  to  accompany  him  to  Deal  or 
Portsmouth.  When  the  helm  of  the  steam-vessel 
was  put  about,  it  was  affecting  to  stand  on  the 
gang-way  between  the  paddle-boxes,  and  see  the 
whole  multitude  wheel  instantly  around,  and  rush 
toward  the  stern,  still  casting  a  "longing  linger- 
ing look"  on  the  Camden.  They  stood:  they 
gazed ;  a  few  seconds  and  faces  were  hardly 
visible  on  board ;  a  few  minutes,  and  her  sails 
were  mingled  with  a  multitude  of  other  vessels;  yet 

*  Mr.  Williams,  in  his  sermons  and  speeches,  often  refers 
to  the  honoured  Matron  who  led  him  to  the  Tabernacle,  on 
the  night  of  his  conversion.  She  still  lives,  and  resides  with 
Mx,  Snow,  her  son-in-law. 


136  EXCURSION   TO   THE 

a  few  additional  minutes,  and  she  was  seen  no 
more. 

The  Camden  proceeded  till  within  about  fifteen 
miles  of  Margate,  when  she  dropt  anchor,  and 
remained  for  the  night.  About  nine  o'clock  on 
Thursday  morning,  it  was  again  weighed,  and  the 
wind  being  fair,  she  soon  passed  the  north  Fore- 
land, and  reached  the  Downs.  She  hove  to,  and 
hoisted  a  signal  for  a  communication  from  the 
shore,  which  was  quickly  answered  by  a  boat 
putting  off  from  Deal.  The  friends  there  had 
been  looking  with  great  anxiety  for  the  appear- 
ance of  the  m.issionary  ship,  but  a  report  being 
circulated  that  she  had  passed  the  Downs  early  in 
the  morning,  many  had  now  (about  3,  P.  M.) 
given  up  the  hope  of  seeing  her.  Finding  that 
the  boat  immediately  returned  for  the  purchase  of 
a  ^Q'w  articles,  and  that  the  Camden  was  laying  to, 
a  large  number  of  friends  began  to  assemble, 
when  the  Rev.  J.  Vincent,  the  Rev.  Mr,  Davis, 
and  several  ladies  and  gentlemen,  came  on  board 
to  congratulate  and  bid  adieu  to  the  missionaries. 
They  sung  a  few  verses  and  returned.  The 
breeze  again  filled  her  canvass;  she  quickly  passed 
the  south  Foreland,  and  was  lost  to  the  view  of 
the  admiring  spectators. 

Here  the  excellent  pilot,  Mr.  Grice,  of  Bruns- 
wick-street, Blackwall,  who  had  been  on  board 
from  Monday  to  Friday,  and  who  made  a  present 
of  his  important  services,  left  the  ship  in  the 
charge  of  Captain  Morgan,  and  went  on  shore. 
On  leaving  the  Downs,  a  steady  gale  soon  car- 
ried the  Camden  through  the  straits  of  Dover. 
Wind  and  weather  continued  fair  till  Saturday 
night,  when  she  had  nearly  made  the  Start  Point. 


MISSIONARY    SHIP.  137 

About  midnight,  the  wind  shifted  to  the  north- 
west, and  blew  with  great  violence.  To  avoid 
danger,  Captain  Morgan  stood  out  to  sea,  and 
they  did  not  see  land  again  till  about  two  o'clock 
on  Sunday ;  about  four,  they  came  to  anchor 
in  Dartmouth  Range.  Some  of  the  company 
went  immediately  on  shore,  where  Mr.  Williams 
preached.  The  kindness  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stenner 
and  his  friends  was  unbounded.  Great  interest 
in  the  unexpected  visit  was  also  evinced  by  the 
inhabitants  of  the  town,  who,  on  the  Monday 
evening,  crowded  to  the  Assembly  Rooms,  in 
obedience  to  the  summons  of  the  town-crier,  to 
"  hear,"  as  the  sapient  functionary  expressed  it, 
"  an  information  from  the  Rev.  John  Williams." 
They  still  continued  weather-bound  when  the 
Rev.  Mr  Prout  left  them  on  Tuesday  evening. 
He  speaks  in  very  glowing  terms  of  the  mild, 
affectionate,  and  devout  spirit  of  Captain  Morgan; 
and  considers  that  it  must  secure  him  the  love  and 
confidence  of  all  who  can  estimate  real  goodness. 
He  further  states  that  the  first  and  second  mates  are 
rnen  of  the  same  class  as  the  captain,  and  that  the 
majority  of  the  crew  appear  to  have  been  selected 
as  much  on  account  of  their  seriousness  as  of  their 
seamanship. 

It  only  remains  to  state,  that  the  company  con- 
sists of  the  Rev.  J.  Williams  and  Mrs.  Williams; 
the  Rev.  George  Charter,  with  Mrs.  Charter,  ap- 
pointed to  Raiatea.  The  Rev.  Charles  Green 
Stevens,  with  Mrs.  Stevens ;  Rev.  Thomas  Joseph, 
with  Mrs.  Joseph;  and  Mr.  Joseph  Johnston, 
Nerval  Teacher,  appointed  to  Tahiti.  The  Rev. 
William  Gill  and  Mrs.  Gill ;  Rev.  Henry  Royle 
and  Mrs.  Royle,  to  Rarotonga.  Rev.  William 
12* 


138  EXCURSION  TO  THE  MISSIONARY  SHIP. 

Day  and  Mrs.  Day;  Mr.  John  Bettridge  Stair, 
missionary-printer,  and  Mrs,  Stair,  to  the  Naviga- 
tors' Islands ;  and  Rev.  Robert  Thomson  to  the 
Marquesas.  Mr.  John  Williams,  Jun.,  and  Mrs. 
Williams,  have  also  embarked  in  the  Camden. 

Such  are  the  men.  May  the  God  and  giver  of 
every  grace,  preserve  them  in  their  voyage  ;  pros- 
per them  in  their  work;  cheer  and  solace  them  in 
all  their  anxieties  ;  be  their  God  and  guide  even 
unto  death ;  own  them  at  last  as  his  faithful  ser- 
vants ;  surround  them  with  a  host  of  spiritual 
children  ;  and  take  them  all,  them  and  theirs,  to 
eternal  glory!     Amen,  and  Amen! 

Tabernacle  House, 
jipril^th,  1838. 


A  Common  Council,  holden  in  the  Chamber  of  the 
Guildhall  of  the  City  of  London,  on  Thursday, 
the  22dday  of  March,  1838. 

Cowan,  Mayor, 

The  Coal  and  Corn,  and  Finance  Committee, 
did  this  day  deliver  into  this  Court  a  Report  in 
writing,  under  their  hands,  for  contributing  £500 
toward  the  expedition  of  the  Rev.  John  Williams, 
to  the  Islands  of  the  Pacific  Ocean,  which  was 
read  in  these  words  ; — 

To  the  Right  Honourable  the  Lord  Mayor,  Alder- 
men,  and  Commons,  of  the  City  of  London,  in 
Common  Cnuncil  assembled : 

We,  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed,  your 
Coal  and  Corn,  and  Finance  Committee,  to  whom, 
on  the  15th  day  of  March  instant,  it  was  referred 
to  examine  the  allegations  of  the  Petition  of  the 
Rev.  John  Williams,  for  a  contribution  toward 
defraying  the  expenses  of  his  intended  expedition 
to  the  islands  of  the  Pacific  Ocean,  for  the  purpose 
of  teaching  the  barbarous  tribes  that  inhabit  them 
the  arts  and  usages  of  civilized  life,  and  instruct- 
ing them  in  the  knowledge  of  the  Christian  re- 
ligion, and  to  report  our  opinion  thereon,  do  cer- 
tify, that  we  have  duly  considered  the  same,  and 
have  been  attended  by  the  Petitioner,  whose  state- 
ments and  documents  not  only  confirm  the  repre- 
sentations made  to  this  Honourable  Court,  but 
have  abundantly  satisfied  your  Committee,  that  a 
great  amount  of  moral  good  has  been  done  in  the 
distant  and  hitherto  barbarous  islands  of  the 
Pacific  Ocean.      The  labours  of  the  Petitioner, 


140       REPORT  UPON  THE  PETITION. 

without  imposing  any  particular  sectarian  forms  or 
tenets,  have,  by  the  simple  aid  of  religion,  dis- 
pelled the  darkness  of  the  Heathen,  introduced 
moral  and  intellectual  improvements,  substituted 
industrious  and  peaceful  habits  for  those  of  fe- 
rocity and  idleness,  and  have  contributed,  in  a 
great  degree,  to  create  an  asylum,  in  safe  and  se- 
cure harbours,  which  before  were  unapproachable 
by  reason  of  the  certain  destruction  that  awaited 
all  strangers  visiting  the  inhospitable  abodes  of 
savages  and  cannibals.  The  mariner  is  now 
enabled  to  recruit  his  stores  from  the  abundant 
supplies  of  islands  whose  natural  fertility  has 
been  made  available  by  newly-created  modes  of 
industry,  at  the  same  time  opening  a  further  field 
for  commercial  enterprise,  and  procuring  an  addi- 
tional market  for  British  manufactures. 

xind  as  the  design  of  the  Petitioner  is  to  ex- 
tend these  disinterested  exertions  for  the  yet 
almost  numberless,  unvisited  Polynesian  Islands, 
inhabited  by  millions  of  savages,  in  order  that  the 
same  great  work  of  civilization,  with  all  the  bless- 
ings of  peace,  good  government,  religion,  and  com- 
merce, may  be  there  promoted  and  established,  we 
your  Committee,  are  of  opinion,  that  this  Honour- 
able Court  should  afford  a  liberal  countenance 
and  support  to  so  noble  and  so  great  a  work,  by 
subscribing  the  sum  of  £500,  which  we  recom- 
mend should  be  immediately  placed  at  the  dis- 
posal of  the  Petitioner,  and  the  acting  managers 
of  the  proposed  Expedition,  Mr.  Williams  being 
about  to  proceed  on  his  enterprising  voyage  in 
the  beginning  of  the  ensuing  month.  We,  your 
Committee,  beg  leave  further  to  certify,  that  while 
we  are  unanimous  in  our  recommendation,  we 


REPORT  UPON  THE  PETITION.       141 

respectfully  submit  to  this  Honourable  Court,  that 
it  is  not  to  be  taken  as  forming  a  precedent  to 
assist  merely  religious  missions,  nor  as  preferring 
any  sect  or  party.  We  confidently  hope,  that  this 
Honourable  Court  will  receive  the  recommenda- 
tion, as  it  is  felt  by  us,  to  be  an  extrnordinary 
donation  for  promoting  the  great  cause  of  civiliza- 
tion and  moral  improvement  of  our  common 
species,  and  as  an  encouragement  to  the  extension 
of  the  commercial  enterprises  of  the  nation,  in  all 
which  noble  deeds  this  Corporation  ought  ever  to 
take  a  distinguished  and  pre-eminent  part ;  all 
which  we  submit  to  the  judgment  of  this  Honour- 
able Court.  Dated  this  22d  day  of  March, 
1838. 


Henry  Patten, 
James  Frisby, 
James  Harmer, 
J.  T.  Norris, 
Harwood  Austwick, 
John  Hill, 
James  Smith, 
James  Lake, 
W.  Danson, 
W.  A.  Beckwith, 


S.  Thomas, 
G.  H.  Heppel, 
Richard  Johnson, 
Thomas  Wood, 
W.  Mathews, 
William  H.  Pilcher, 
Edward  Eagleton, 
John  Brown, 
Robert  Easer. 


And  a  motion  being  made,  and  question  put,  that 
this  Court  doth  agree  with  the  Committee  in  their 
said  Report,  the  same  was  resolved  in  the  affirma- 
tive ;  and  it  is  ordered  that  Mr.  Chamberlain  do 
pay  the  same  accordingly. 

WOODTHORPE. 

George  Ashley,  Clerk  to  the 
Court  of  Common  Council. 


DATE  DUE 

Jl^\i  ag,. 

^^^•^^ 

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CAYLOKO 

PHINTtOIN  US    A. 

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BW9009.W7M6 

The  missionary's  farewell :  valedictory  ; 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary-Speer  Library 


